Chapter 99
Chapter 99
Mad Black Mage's Tower Strategy
Chapter 99
Talis examined the iron ingot that Se-yeon had handed him from all angles, smiling.
"It's a Sword's Original. You have a good item. Where did you get it?"
"That person gave it to me."
"That person?"
If it's someone this little one would refer to as "that person," it can only be him.
I thought he was an extraordinary fellow, but to think he had something like this too.
"He gave you this precious thing?"
"Is it good?"
Se-yeon tilted her head as if she didn't know.
It seemed she had just received it and kept it without knowing its value.
Talis nodded vigorously and explained.
"Good, indeed. It's a Sword's Original that can create any sword as long as you have the blueprint. Even if you searched the entire Tower, you wouldn't find more than a dozen or so."
"......!"
She hadn't known this iron ingot was such a precious item.
"That fellow must value you highly."
Or maybe he gave it to her thinking he'd never have use for a sword in his lifetime.
Leaving the surprised Se-yeon behind, Talis fell into contemplation.
"Hmm, they say if you're too stingy, it turns to shit, but it would be a waste to forge this right now. At a mere 12th floor level."
The blueprints available at the 12th floor level were only mediocre ones. The same went for the 30th floor, which was currently the highest floor humanity had opened.
Using this now would be quite wasteful.
"For now, it would be best to just transform it into a usable form. That alone should be sufficient."
Talis grasped the Sword's Original in his hand and began kneading it while infusing it with mana.
SQUISH- SQUISH-.
The Sword's Original changed shape as easily as if it had been heated by fire.
Talis stretched and flattened the Sword's Original, making it into a long rod.
"Excuse me for a moment."
PRICK-.
Then, as Talis moved his hand, a drop of blood formed on Se-yeon's fingertip.
Talis put that drop of blood into the iron rod and established ownership.
"Now this is yours. Even if someone takes it away, they won't be able to forge it as they please."
"Ah. That......"
Se-yeon was flustered.
If she had known it was so precious, she wouldn't have accepted it.
Now she couldn't even return it.
Noticing that Se-yeon felt burdened, Talis patted her shoulder and said.
"That fellow gave it to you to use anyway, didn't he? It's his fault."
HUMMMM-.
Then Talis infused his true energy into the rod.
Blue stripes similar to a mage's mana circuits were drawn on the rod.
Infusing true energy was a loophole that bypassed the 12th floor's rules, but they'd probably turn a blind eye to this much.
The Sword's Original, which had emitted a brilliant light, soon returned to the form of an ordinary rod.
"This should do. It should be quite useful until you get a good blueprint."
Se-yeon carefully received the rod that Talis handed her.
It looked like an ordinary iron rod on the outside, but it somehow felt warm.
"Does it have a name by any chance?"
Talis said matter-of-factly.
"Nameless."
There was no need to give a good name and form attachment to something that would be changed soon anyway.
Sometimes naming something could consume karma unknowingly, and it could create bonds that make it difficult to change later.
For the future, it would be better to have no clear name.
"Nameless...... Thank you."
"Thank you for what. That aside, have you gained any insights?"
"Yes."
Se-yeon nodded.
The waterfall training.
At first, she suspected this old man was punishing her under the pretense of mental discipline.
But now it was different.
She seemed to understand a little the meaning of not enduring or withstanding, but letting it flow.
Seeing Se-yeon's eyes, Talis realized she had gained some insight.
As if the time had finally come, he pointed out her problems in a calm voice.
"There are thorns in your heart. I won't ask about your detailed past, but this is both a strength and a weakness. You seem to have become a bit gentler after meeting that fellow, but your fundamental nature is originally strong. Like thorns that stab others to avoid getting hurt yourself."
"Thorns."
Se-yeon looked down at her chest area as if confirming Talis's words.
"But being only strong will make you break when you meet a stronger enemy. Strength must coexist with softness. You need softness. This doesn't only apply to martial arts. It's necessary for your life too. A heart full of thorns cannot embrace others."
Talis pointed at Se-yeon.
"But......"
"What, you already have good people by your side? That's not because you haven't grown thorns. It's just that there happen to be good adults nearby who accept your petulance."
"......"
She wanted to refute, but had nothing to say. Talis's words were right a hundred times over.
Lee Seo-jin, Circe, Han So-yul - they were all good people.
"Anyway, I'm not trying to give you a life lecture."
Talis took the Nameless that Se-yeon was holding and approached the waterfall.
Then he found a spot where the water flow was weak and thrust Nameless into it.
PAAANG-.
The waterfall split with a loud sound.
"No matter how strong something is, it has weak points. His magic is the same. Fortunately, your instincts have the ability to identify those weaknesses. It's truly a natural talent."
The split waterfall streams became one again and flowed downward.
"Don't confront magic head-on. Cut through his magic like flowing water. If you break through its structure and sever its weak points, you'll finally be able to reach him."
Then Talis stuck the Nameless he was holding into the rock below the waterfall.
THUDDD-.
"Temper your own heart. Stand straight so your will doesn't waver. A heart full of thorns will quickly be swept away by the current. Use the softness within you to temper the thorns inside you and make them straight."
RUSHHHHH-.
The nameless iron rod stood unwavering even under the endlessly pouring waterfall.
"Don't be swept away by the waterfall, stand straight and let the water flow past you. Stand firmly alone, but don't forget the principle of softness. A single dagger cutting through rough currents. That's how you'll defeat him."
Not being swept away by the world, standing straight and letting the storms flow past. Standing firm alone while not losing softness.
An upright heart that cuts through rough fate.
That was the way of life Se-yeon should pursue from now on.
Her martial way.
***
A group of mages walking confidently through the corridor.
They were the tower climbers who had passed this cycle's test and been granted the qualification to receive teachings under the great beings.
With their shoulders raised high, they followed a servant dispatched from Pandemonium who guided them to their lodgings.
"This is the room where you'll be staying from now on."
But as if they had no interest in lodgings, they immediately sought out Rosaria.
"How do the teachings work? Where is Lady Rosaria?"
"We came to learn directly from her!"
The servant politely answered.
"The cases where she personally gives teachings are extremely rare. So you'll be following the educational curriculum that Pandemonium's trainees learn."
The mages' faces hardened at the servant's answer.
"What?"
"The reward for passing the test is just a trainee education curriculum?"
"This isn't what we wanted!"
"Where's the supernova who was called first?"
They immediately became indignant and began pressing the servant.
"Th-that...... even if you ask me."
Just as the servant was in trouble.
CREAK-.
A man came out of a room and asked the servant.
"Hey. Can I use the library?"
As if relieved to escape the interrogation, the servant immediately bowed to Seo-jin.
"Ah, yes. I'll guide you right away."
Seo-jin nodded and briefly scanned the group of mages.
'......There aren't really any useful ones among them.'
Just because they passed the test didn't mean they all had skills comparable to Seo-jin's.
The test content varied for each individual.
If they had passed a test similar in difficulty to the one Talis had given, it would be worth Rosaria teaching them directly.
But seeing that she didn't appear personally, these people seemed mediocre in Rosaria's eyes too.
Or maybe she was ignoring them because she was tired from helping Seo-jin create his magic system.
The mages looked at Seo-jin who had suddenly emerged into the corridor and asked.
"Being in the lodgings already. Are you perhaps the supernova...... no, you're not."
They thought Seo-jin was the supernova who had received Rosaria's selection earlier. But looking closely, his height and build were completely different from the supernova.
Moreover, his appearance was plain to the point of being ugly, so Seo-jin was quickly eliminated from suspicion.
That was natural, since Seo-jin was currently wearing the 'Mask of Ten Thousand Forms.'
His appearance and build, visible to others, were completely different from Seo-jin's original form.
Instead of a greeting, Seo-jin left the mages with a word of advice.
"Don't bother innocent people and follow the rules. Everything has its turn. If you study well, you might receive direct teachings someday."
Even if they followed the trainee curriculum for now, if they distinguished themselves there, Rosaria might show interest.
At least it would be better to work hard in training and try to catch Rosaria's eye rather than complaining here.
It was quite kind advice for Seo-jin's personality.
It was sincere advice from someone walking the same path of magic.
But.
"Who are you to act like you know so much?"
"Do you think you're something special just because you passed the test first?"
"Hmph, it must have been an easy test, so you passed quickly and came here early."
What came back was mockery and sarcasm.
"......"
‘Even when I give advice with good intentions, these bastards act like this.’
Then.
RIPPLE-.
The end of the corridor shimmered and a black vortex opened, from which a woman in a purple dress walked out.
"Oh my, it's you guys? The newcomers who entered this time."
At Rosaria's appearance, the mages were startled and either bowed their heads or blushed.
"Ah, yes! Lady Rosaria!"
"It's an honor to meet you!"
Unlike their previous imposing manner, the mages now watched Rosaria's mood.
But Rosaria had already seen their attitude toward the servant and formed a bad impression.
'Such mediocre talent, yet with that kind of attitude.'
"Hmm, well."
Rosaria, thinking to tease them, embraced the disguised Seo-jin and winked.
"Sorry, but I don't think you have that much talent. Still, well, try hard~"
***
Thus began life on the 12th floor.
During the day, he went to Talis's floating island to train the Reverse Heaven Divine Technique, and at night, he returned to the magic tower to train Wolcheonjingyeong with Rosaria.
When training was over, Seo-jin often left Pandemonium's area to look around other places.
He went to the Pantheon area ruled by Gabriel and received a gift from her.
An A-grade artifact called [Valerius's Badge].
He could receive VIP treatment at any temple where Pantheon's power reached, regardless of the floor.
There was also a hint that he could take refuge in the Pantheon anytime if he wanted to leave the magical path.
But he had no such intention.
'I should give this to Ha-yeon when I meet her next time.'
Next, he visited the fairy realm Avalon several times but couldn't enter.
Avalon was a mystical zone that only those with aptitude for spirit magic could enter.
Seo-jin had no aptitude for spirit magic.
Of course, he was commanding Glize, an ice spirit, but this was a workaround using necromancy.
Narcissus found it interesting but scolded him saying it wasn't good for contracted spirits and chased Seo-jin away.
Still, he wasn't completely uninterested in Seo-jin, as he too gave him an artifact as a gift.
[Badge of the Fairy Knight]
It was an artifact similar to the [Fairy King's Talisman] he had received from Circe before.
It was said that carrying it would gradually increase spirit magic aptitude.
He had no interest in spirit magic, but decided to carry it anyway.
He didn't just wander around - during his remaining time, Seo-jin continued magic training and physical conditioning, raising his level and recovering his body.
A month after entering the 12th floor.
"WAAAAH!"
Valhalla's Colosseum.
The grand finale of this cycle, the ranking competition, was held.