Chapter 89
Chapter 89
Mad Black Mage's Tower Strategy
Chapter 89
Before Gabriel's words could even finish, dark traces of mana burst forth from beyond the crack that appeared in the void.
Soon the surroundings were dyed dark red in an instant, and a woman walked out from within the crack.
CLICK-.
A deep purple silk dress that revealed sensual curves and a hat with a brim so wide it was almost comical.
Her blood-red lips formed a graceful arc, and her red eyes, which similarly harbored chaos, were filled with languidness and sensuality.
At that bewitching appearance, gazes different from when Gabriel appeared were focused.
Among them, only Seo-jin looked at her with emotionless eyes.
'Elder of Pandemonium, Witch Rosaria.'
Rosaria looked Gabriel up and down and licked her red lips.
[Trying to take away our person without permission, how rude. Does your side have no business ethics?]
Her voice was sweet as honey, but sharp poison was hidden within it.
Gabriel answered calmly without a single change in expression despite Rosaria's poisonous provocation.
[Rosaria, the belonging of all things is determined according to His will. He desired him. Also, I cannot let the darkness within him devour that soul. I will not stand by and watch your evil hand try to corrupt a climber's soul.]
"What are you muttering about? You're even funnier when you're being serious."
At that moment.
"KUHAHAHA! How boring to be having a war of words! I'll snatch the real deal first!"
KUWOONG-.
With a tremendous vibration that shook the earth, something huge fell from the sky.
Gradually the dusty haze settled, and the owner of the voice revealed himself beyond it.
His upper body, carelessly draped with animal hide, was covered with rock-hard muscles, and countless scars were carved all over those muscles.
The smell of sweat and iron that wafted from afar, and the hot fighting spirit, were proof that he was a warrior from Valhalla.
It was Talis, the Fighting Demon of Valhalla.
He looked at Seo-jin and shouted loudly.
"Boy, that murderous intent burning in your eyes, I like it. Come to Valhalla with this old man. I promise endless feasts every night and honorable battles. It'll be much more enjoyable than dealing with that lustful witch or that boring angel."
With the appearance of three big shots, the plaza became a complete pandemonium.
Selection itself was an uncommon occurrence, but for the big shots of each faction to keep each other in check over a single climber.
The climbers poured out their various speculations while looking at the robed Seo-jin amidst shock and excitement.
"Wh-who is that black robe that those big shots are..."
"C-could it be the supernova?"
"By now he should be on the 12th floor."
It was then. The wildflowers in the flower beds surrounding the plaza suddenly bloomed fully and emitted a soft light.
And at the same time, a cloying voice echoed in all directions.
[Oh my. At this rate, my turn won't come at all.]
The owner of the voice was Narcissus, the spirit of the Fairy Realm.
Boasting sculptural physical beauty and androgynous appearance, he took a polite gesture and stepped back.
[Though he's a coveted talent, we of Avalon will withdraw.]
Already three prominent figures had declared they would take Seo-jin with them. He didn't bother getting his feet dirty in a mud fight.
Since the great beings of the four major powers all said they wanted Seo-jin, the gazes of everyone in the plaza focused on Seo-jin.
"......"
The expression of Seo-jin under his deeply pulled robe remained calm as ever.
Originally climbers had no right to refuse selection, but in such special cases, the right to choose was given to the climber.
'The reason these beings are showing such interest in me is just one thing.'
The Energy Core obtained from the Great Cavity. That must have had a big influence.
Certainly those great beings noticed Seo-jin's existence at that time.
Originally, only Gabriel, who was the overseer, would have revealed herself for this cycle's test, and other factions would have sent subordinates to select climbers.
The appearance of elder-level figures from each faction was entirely due to Seo-jin's presence.
Seo-jin let out a small sigh and weighed which side would be more beneficial.
'Pandemonium would expect the creation of new systems of magic, Pantheon would expect control of madness through sacred discipline, and Valhalla would expect strengthening of the Primordial Unity Technique through the warrior's path.'
Whichever way he went would be of great help to Seo-jin.
But there weren't only advantages.
Strengthening black magic would accelerate physical collapse and mental erosion, and sacred discipline had the possibility of weakening or causing the power Seo-jin had built up to run wild. He couldn't accept two powers into one upper dantian.
Strengthening the Primordial Unity Technique would be welcome, but it wasn't what he particularly desired. The Primordial Unity Technique was merely an auxiliary means. He had no intention of seeing the end of martial arts.
Seo-jin let out a short sigh and jerked his chin toward Rosaria.
"I will head to Pandemonium."
At Seo-jin's answer, she smiled and gestured to Gabriel.
[Huhu, I knew you'd choose us. Would the thieving cat who's been eyeing other people's things please get lost now?]
Gabriel tried to maintain a smile despite Rosaria's provocation.
But Seo-jin didn't miss the blood vessels writhing at her temples.
[......I will pray that your choice becomes a path without regret.]
"Hmph, now that I look at him, he was a guy with bad potential from the start. To fall for such a lustful witch."
Talis clicked his tongue regretfully, then spotted Se-yeon and his eyes flashed.
"Instead, you there, girl."
"......?"
"Yes, you. Your eyes are alive. Won't you come to Valhalla with me? I'll make you a hundred times stronger than following around such a lustful mage. How about it!"
"I, I..."
As Se-yeon hesitated, Seo-jin pushed her back and said.
"Selection by Talis, that's fortunate. Such opportunities are rare."
He was one of the most powerful beings even among Valhalla's divine ranks. He would teach Se-yeon well.
"I understand."
After Seo-jin and Se-yeon received selection, Gabriel and Narcissus each selected one more person, for a total of two more.
The climbers who received selection in this cycle totaled four.
Seo-jin narrowed his eyes while watching one climber moving under Narcissus's guidance.
'That person.'
He definitely seemed to have seen them somewhere before, but they quickly disappeared beyond dimensions so he couldn't confirm properly.
The majority of climbers who didn't receive selection showed various reactions, expressing disappointment and anxiety or looking relieved.
Gabriel opened her mouth once more.
[Climbers who were not chosen, do not be disappointed. Each of you has your own path prepared. Now I will begin your test. Head toward the gate of fate given to each of you.]
As her words ended, the entrances to four diverging paths shone brightly and began to suck in the climbers.
[Now then, follow me, child.]
"......"
Seo-jin followed Rosaria's guidance toward the gate where darkness and chaos swirled.
***
SWOOOOSH-.
Beyond the swirling gate, a corridor made of black bricks.
Rosaria walked closely pressed against Seo-jin's side and spoke in a whisper.
"Huhu, I heard the story from Circe. That you became her disciple?"
Rosaria seemed to have already heard the story about Seo-jin.
"That's right. And stay away from me."
When Seo-jin pushed her shoulder away, Rosaria chuckled and slightly increased the distance.
"So prickly."
After grumbling once, she continued speaking while maintaining her soft voice.
"Anyway, choosing our Pandemonium means you want to continue walking the path of magic, right? Then big sister can help you out a bit."
A monster who lived thousands of years calling herself big sister, what nonsense.
But there was no reason to say such things.
This was one of the few triggers that would enrage the well-meaning Rosaria.
Even Seo-jin, who received Circe's favor, couldn't guarantee his life.
Still, it was great fortune that Rosaria visited the 12th floor in this cycle.
She was an elder on good terms with Circe, and was unparalleled when it came to modifying techniques.
She could give Seo-jin what he wanted.
"How do you plan to help?"
"That depends on you. The essence of magic is equivalent exchange. If I give you teachings, what can you give me?"
Rosaria's eyes glowed red.
Within those playful eyes was a chilling aura of chaos.
Though most of her power would be constrained by the administrator's restrictions, he could still feel a tremendous difference in rank.
Seo-jin swallowed while looking at the form of chaos hidden behind her charming appearance.
'Great beings of the Tower.'
What was their origin?
Where did they come from, and what relationship did they have with the demons who ruled this Tower? And what differences existed between them?
No, what was the Tower in the first place? What was the identity of the natives living within it?
Even Seo-jin, who witnessed the Tower's collapse and fought the demons until the very end, couldn't know those answers.
These beings also wouldn't tell him.
Until climbers realized it themselves, these beings could not and would not reveal their origins and secrets.
The teachings of the 12th floor were merely gifts from the great beings who desired the climbers' growth.
Though they would give teachings, they wouldn't explain the upper floors or reveal any secrets about the Tower.
Seo-jin sighed and spoke as if telling her to do whatever she wanted.
"I have nothing to give. If you don't like it, give me a test. I'll pass whatever test it is."
He was already fully prepared.
He was confident he could easily pass even a test given directly by Rosaria.
"Hmm? My tests aren't easy, are you sure you'll be okay? It would be more convenient to show me sincerity instead?"
Seo-jin responded with stubborn silence.
"How boring. Well, fine. I'm as interested in your talent as I am in your body."
CLICK-.
As he chatted with Rosaria while walking down the long corridor, they were able to arrive at a laboratory before he knew it.
The walls were filled with profane characters he couldn't recognize or understand and eerie pictures.
Glass bottles containing creatures preserved in bizarre forms were lined up on the shelves, and liquids of various colors of unknown identity were bubbling in bottles and pots on the experiment table.
This was a temporary laboratory prepared on the 12th floor.
Though it wasn't Rosaria's domain or real workshop, even as a temporary facility it held mysteries of a different dimension from humanity's research facilities.
Rosaria sat sprawled in a bizarre chair in the center of the laboratory and gestured to Seo-jin.
"I need to examine the origin of your magic. I heard a rough explanation from Circe, but seeing it directly is better. Don't hide it and bring it out."
Seo-jin nodded and extended his arm.
Rosaria examined the mana circuits within it with quite serious touches as she stroked Seo-jin's right arm.
Soft hand movements that seemed to hold some unfathomable ulterior motive.
She soon nodded as if she had realized something.
"Mm, so it's like this. The structure of your mana circuits is quite bold, isn't it? At the same time it holds deep history and resentment, so it's understandable that Circe would like it. But... like this you won't last long and will die soon, right?"
Rosaria grasped the state Seo-jin was in at once.
"I know. I'm dying even now."
At Seo-jin's calm answer, Rosaria took out a pipe and put it in her mouth.
FLICK-.
She lit it by snapping her fingers and spoke while chewing on the pipe end.
"Huhu, there's no need to be so self-deprecating. Being alive simultaneously means dying. Dying isn't something so special. What's important is the speed at which you reach death, isn't it?"
Rosaria blew smoke into Seo-jin's face and asked.
"Let me ask you one thing. Do you have confidence you can achieve your goal before you die?"