Chapter 83
Chapter 83
Mad Black Mage's Tower Strategy
Chapter 83
Leaving the Tower Entry Management Office behind and following Han So-yul's guidance, they arrived at the Climber Association headquarters.
Seo-jin scratched his cheek hidden by his mask while glancing around at his surroundings.
It felt strange to boldly enter the association headquarters filled with people who were desperately trying to find him.
Even though the association president herself had canceled the warrant, many figures connected to politics, business, and the media were still working hard to find Seo-jin.
‘Without Han So-yul's help, it would have been difficult.’
So-yul reassured Seo-jin and Se-yeon as she guided them inside the headquarters.
"Don't be too nervous. Other than me, no one knows your appearance or attire. Se-yeon, relax too. Is this your first time in a crowded place?"
"Oh, yes."
"Just follow me and you'll have nothing to worry about."
BEEP-.
Indeed, under So-yul's guidance, the association's security facilities and checkpoints were a free pass.
After switching elevators several times, they arrived at the association president's office on the top floor of the association.
KNOCK KNOCK-.
"Sister, I'm coming in~"
As So-yul opened the door, a spacious office with modern design welcomed Seo-jin's group.
The interior design had a cold and quiet atmosphere that seemed to reveal the association president's personality.
There were also various items that didn't match the other furniture, like cute blankets and snack trays, which seemed to belong to So-yul.
And at the innermost part of the room, sitting with her back to a huge glass window, was one woman.
She had wavy black hair and snow-white skin. Dark circles under her eyes that contrasted with her complexion made for an impressive appearance.
It was Han Seo-hee, the president of the Climber Association.
‘The sisters have similar appearances, but their hair length and the atmosphere they give off, their styles are completely different.’
She slightly raised her head from a mountain of documents to greet her younger sister.
"Oh, So-yul."
Then her gaze turned to Seo-jin and Se-yeon standing behind Han So-yul.
"Who are these two people?"
"This is Se-yeon, a younger sister I met in the Tower. And this person is..."
She introduced Seo-jin.
"This is Seo-jin, the rising star that sister was looking for. I brought him well, didn't I?"
"...?"
Han Seo-hee looked back and forth between her younger sister and Seo-jin in a daze before dropping the pen she was holding.
***
A little while later.
"So, you came out to rest for a while."
CLINK-.
Han Seo-hee said as she put down her teacup.
Han Seo-hee, who had heard part of Seo-jin's activities through So-yul, nodded her head.
At first, she thought it was a bad joke when she heard about a rising star, but now she understood.
So-yul wandering around the territory of the Thousand-Eyed Demon Tree on the 3rd floor, and being out of contact for several days after that.
Her continued interest in the rising star, and even the recent Great Cavity incident.
However.
"Hmm."
Han Seo-hee's gaze swept over Seo-jin.
'...He doesn't look particularly special on the outside.'
His appearance was close to So-yul's taste, but his personality seemed bad.
Also, she couldn't detect the heroic aspects that Ju Won-jae radiated or the unique atmosphere that other strategy team members exuded.
Was this man really the rumored rising star?
‘Perhaps her younger sister got fooled by some worthless guy…’
Feeling Han Seo-hee's suspicious gaze, Seo-jin reached out his hand.
"What, are you suspicious?"
Even with So-yul's testimony, seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times.
Seo-jin drew up his mana to prove himself.
SIZZLE-.
Pain shot through the nerves from his brain to his arm, and black sparks flew from his fingertips.
FLICKER-.
Black magic flames dancing on Seo-jin's palm.
Manifesting magic outside the Tower.
"...!"
Both Han Seo-hee and So-yul's eyes widened at the sight.
"How, how did you do that? What?"
Generally, magic cannot be used outside the Tower. This is because the mana concentration in reality is extremely low compared to the Tower.
This is painful for mages who draw and use surrounding mana, and even the most excellent mages are useless outside the Tower.
Occasionally, when mana disasters occur or gates open, mana concentration temporarily rises, but this doesn't last very long either.
Of course, it's not completely impossible to use magic outside the Tower.
If you burn mana stones containing mana, you can temporarily create mana with the same efficiency as inside the Tower.
In that state, using magic is theoretically possible.
'But that's only in theory.'
In the real world without the Tower's 'blessing', you can't receive the system's corrections.
Who could use magic without the system's corrections?
Demanding magic from a mage outside the Tower is no different from demanding magic from an ordinary person.
But this person...
"There are ways to do everything."
Instead of explaining, Seo-jin clenched his fist and extinguished the flame in his grip.
"Do you believe me now?"
"Yes... You are that rising star."
Even considering the peculiarity of black magic, using magic outside the Tower is an extremely difficult thing.
If he wasn't the rumored rising star, who could do it?
Considering the achievements the rising star had made in the Tower, it wasn't that surprising.
Having finished her confirmation, Han Seo-hee crossed her legs again and asked Seo-jin.
"I was curious about what kind of person you were, but to think you'd come visit me personally like this. What an honor"
Seo-jin readily nodded his head.
"I feel the same. It's an honor to meet face to face with the blood of the renowned Han Kyeong-cheol."
The blood of Han Kyeong-cheol, who was Seo-jin's benefactor and once an admired goal.
Not only So-yul but Han Seo-hee also resembled their father.
Han Seo-hee muttered self-deprecatingly.
"Hah, I'm only bringing shame to father's reputation."
Then So-yul kicked Seo-jin's foot.
"I'm also dad's daughter, you know?"
"..."
Seo-jin reluctantly nodded his head.
Well, that's true. They are sisters after all.
But since the sisters have completely different atmospheres, it doesn't feel real.
If Han Seo-hee carries the atmosphere of a hero who pioneered the early Tower with her father, So-yul, who has quite an age gap, feels like the youngest of the family.
"So, what's your business in coming to see me? Seeing that you came to find me as soon as you left the Tower, it seems you want something."
When Seo-jin sent a glance, So-yul revealed the business instead.
"I was hoping sister could provide some conveniences. Things like converting mana stones to cash or purchasing real estate... Oh, it's not that we want to evade taxes, just temporarily! Sister knows this person's situation, right?"
"..."
Han Seo-hee looked at Seo-jin blankly.
She thought he would demand something tremendously great, but these were very realistic concerns.
It was a bit deflating, but she could feel his human side.
She put down her teacup and asked Seo-jin.
"In short, you want to avoid public attention?"
"That's right."
That doesn't mean he plans to completely hide his identity.
If he had wanted to completely hide his identity, he wouldn't have interacted with others or left anonymous records on the leaderboard.
However, Seo-jin was maintaining the contradictory policy of operating in the shadows while making his achievements known.
In such circumstances, with various pressures and problems arising, it was difficult to overcome them with personal strength alone.
'Making connections that can help with climbing is necessary.'
There are limits to individual strength alone, so he needed to create allies he could ask for help when needed.
Today's matter could also be seen as an extension of that.
Currency exchange and real estate purchases were just excuses; the real purpose was to interact with the association president and understand her thoughts and stance.
"Well... that won't be difficult."
Han Seo-hee readily promised to help.
In fact, this level of assistance doesn't even fall into the category of providing conveniences.
Countries around the world are waging recruitment wars to attract high-level climbers.
They make every effort to naturalize talent to their countries, not only through tax reductions but also by using all sorts of dirty tricks.
The recent Yellow Dragon Mage Tower incident was also friction sparked from there.
In the midst of this, when the rumored rising star who has been making a commotion in the Tower came personally, it would be nonsense to say she couldn't help with this.
"Don't worry. I'll take responsibility and handle it."
"You already look like you have a lot of work, so I feel sorry about this."
Han Seo-hee let out a deep sigh and leaned back against the sofa.
"...It's just daily life, nothing special. Is that the end of your business?"
"No, there's one more thing. There's another favor related to this friend."
"Se-yeon... was it?"
"Yes."
"It seems she has circumstances and no guardian. I think she'll need a guardian. And a house to live in outside."
At Seo-jin's words, Han Seo-hee readily nodded her head.
"If you purchase a house, I'll arrange for her to be assigned nearby. So-yul or I can be her guardian. Since So-yul is close to her, you do it, So-yul."
"Okay."
"And, I'd like to request information access."
Following Seo-jin's statement, So-yul carefully whispered in Han Seo-hee's ear.
'...Criminal record check?'
Han Seo-hee frowned.
Could that girl be from a juvenile detention center or have a warrant? That would be a bit troublesome.
If such information became known to the public by any chance, it could damage the positions of So-yul, who would be the guardian, or herself.
"There are circumstances. Please look into it once."
At Seo-jin and So-yul's request, Han Seo-hee swallowed her uneasiness and nodded her head.
And the searched record showed.
"It's clean?"
"...!"
"There's no record at all."
At Han Seo-hee's response, Se-yeon breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed that the orphanage where she lived was itself an illegal research facility, so despite the director's death, no report was made.
If they arrested Se-yeon and started investigating the truth, the horrors that occurred at the orphanage could be uncovered in the process.
Seo-jin expressed gratitude on Se-yeon's behalf.
"Thank you. Is there anything you want from me?"
"What, how great a thing did I do? I just hope you continue climbing the Tower as you are."
The association and Tower are gaining tremendous benefits just from his existence.
Since the rising star's appearance, interest in the Tower and the number of newly recruited climbers has greatly increased.
Where interest and people gather, money soon follows.
Coinciding with his emergence, the association's stock price has been setting new records daily.
Well... even if the association's stock price rises, it doesn't mean anything falls to Han Seo-hee.
She's not particularly interested in money, and fame is already burdensome enough.
What's this?
Come to think of it, the more prosperous the Tower becomes, the more work just increases.
The harder she works, the more work increases?
'Damn it.'
Thinking about it that way suddenly made her depressed.
What kind of wealth and glory was she trying to gain by suffering like this?
Realizing the reality she had been trying to forget, her motivation for life began to disappear.
She blankly stirred her teacup with a teaspoon.
'Ah, I want to rest. No, I want to die.'
She just wanted to faint for a few days. She wanted to run away to a deserted island where no one knows. She didn't want to wake up in the morning. She didn't want to answer the phone. She didn't want to work.
An association president has no personal time. No time to meet men either.
Not only that. Her neck aches, her shoulders hurt, her feet hurt, and her eyes ache.
Sometimes her heart aches so much it's hard to breathe.
All that's left after life-threatening tower climbing are aftereffects.
In such circumstances, there's nowhere to complain. She occasionally vents to her younger sister to some degree.
She can't make sounds of difficulty in front of anyone and must always steadfastly maintain her position.
Although she desperately wants to throw everything away and disappear right now.
'I can't do that.'
This position is the last bastion protecting the freedom of tower climbing, obtained through blood and tears shed by her father in negotiations with the administrator until his death.
She can't stand to see this position fall into the hands of evil people.
She is the daughter of a hero and the head of the association that maintains the balance between the Tower and the world.
Having finished her momentary emotional deviation, Han Seo-hee put down the teaspoon she was stirring with and opened her mouth.
"...You can stay at the association longer. So-yul will guide you well."
"Okay, sister."
Just as Han Seo-hee was about to drink her tea and return to her seat to work.
"This is a gift."
Seo-jin placed a tin case on the table.
At those words, Han Seo-hee tilted her head.
"...A gift?"
"That's right, open it."
Opening the case with half-belief and half-doubt, she saw cigarettes neatly arranged inside.
"It will be helpful."