Ha Meks Han
Gregorius's overwhelming presence was so intense that Yoahim felt his breath catch for a moment. The great mage, once the Tower Master of the mage tower, had the power to freeze a level 27 Dark Knight in place with just a glare.
Yoahim thought for a split second that things had gone wrong, but he forced his mouth to move anyway.
"I hope speaking the truth doesn't become a crime."
"As long as you're telling nothing but the honest truth, that is."
The air felt suffocating, like a noose tightening around his neck, and Yoahim felt a thirst rising in his throat. He reached for his teacup but clenched his fingertips and looked at Gregorius's face instead.
"I got it from killing a black mage named Veros."
"Hah, Veros..."
Gregorius sighed. He let out another deep breath, as if truly regretting it, then continued.
"He was a young mage from our tower. Talented, passionate too. But that passion went too far. He got obsessed with dark arts and eventually betrayed the tower and fled."
Yoahim already knew this from the quest description.
Gregorius refilled his empty teacup and said, "I knew he'd left the tower and was causing harm to people. I should've sent a pursuit team sooner to deal with it, but with so many other matters, I let it slide until now. To think you took care of him for us."
Yoahim flinched under Gregorius's gaze. Was killing him the problem? Did they expect him to handle it their way since he was once a tower mage?
But contrary to his worries, Gregorius's expression softened into a smile.
"Thank you. You did our job for us. No matter what, he was once a mage from the same tower—it would've been awkward for us to kill him ourselves."
"N-no, it's nothing."
"You've solved a thorny problem, so I should repay the favor. You're an adventurer, right? Looks like you wield a sword."
Gregorius stood and rummaged through a drawer. A moment later, he handed Yoahim a glass vial filled with a sloshing yellow liquid.
"What's this?"
"Something I made. Alchemy's my specialty, actually. Drink it, and you'll gain strength like an orc's."
Yoahim's eyes widened. He knew exactly what this was—a consumable item that boosted the Strength stat. And he was giving away something this rare?
With trembling hands, he took the vial. The yellow liquid sloshed inside.
"Isn't this super valuable?"
"It is. But not to me. I made it on a whim, so no need to feel burdened."
"Th-then, I'll gratefully drink it."
"Truth be told, I haven't done any clinical trials yet. There might be minor side effects, but don't worry too much. What could go wrong?"
Why the hell bring that up now? Yoahim grimaced but uncorked the vial and downed the contents in one gulp. He shook it to get every last drop.
You drank the Potion of Strength!
Strength stat increased by 20!
Yoahim felt his body lighten and power surging through him. Just one potion, and his Strength shot up by 20. With his current stats, he far surpassed level 27. He clenched his fist, feeling his grip strength had grown immensely.
At this level, he could probably hunt level 40 monsters.
But there was one issue.
"Uh, my body's feeling kinda hot. Is this really okay?"
"Hmm, mild fever upon consumption. No other side effects? Any pain, headaches? Tell me now if there are—I need to note it for improvements."
Yoahim stared in disbelief as Gregorius jotted notes on a piece of paper. Mages were mages, alright. No wonder he'd handed over something so precious—he was using Yoahim as a guinea pig for clinical trials.
Still, no real problems, and I got the Strength boost.
Yoahim cut off Gregorius's enthusiastic questioning.
"So, what the hell is that book? If Veros hid it in a safe, it seemed pretty valuable."
"Hmm, well..."
Gregorius trailed off, stroking the cover before continuing.
"Truth is, I don't know either."
"Pardon?"
"Embarrassing to admit, but I have no idea what it is. Never seen the script before. Can't read a single character, so no clue about the contents. And while it has the tower's emblem on the cover, I've never laid eyes on this book."
If you don't know, why act all high and mighty? Yoahim was a bit dumbfounded.
"Maybe you just overlooked it, Chairman? I'm no expert, but the tower must have thousands of books."
"Could be. But why would an unreadable book be in the tower, and why did Veros take it when he fled? Maybe it's someone's prank, and Veros fell for it."
If that was true, Veros had lived a pitiful life. Risking everything to steal a book from the tower, only for it to be a doodle pad? Good thing he died clueless.
"But on the flip side, it could be a truly precious grimoire. Something from ancient times we can't decipher. I'm curious about its true nature—how about you?"
"A little curious, yeah."
"Then why not stay the night here?"
What the hell? Yoahim raised an eyebrow, and Gregorius explained.
"Mages each have their specialties. Like my alchemy, the Tower Master excels in ancient magic. If it's an ancient grimoire, showing it to her is best. She's due back tomorrow morning—perfect timing, no?"
The Tower Master—Lilith. Yoahim had no reason to refuse. He'd nearly left without seeing her due to her absence, but now fate offered another chance.
"Of course. I'll wait. I'm curious about the book too."
"The tower has dorms for all-nighters. I'll ask Merilda to set you up with a room."
"Thank you."
"And keep the book with you."
"Me?"
Yoahim's eyes widened as Gregorius handed it back.
"Wouldn't it be safer with you, Chairman?"
"A mage is a seeker of truth. We pursue the unknown, study it, make it ours. In other words, we're like kids with endless curiosity. If I kept it, I'd obsess over it all day. As Kalsara Council Chairman, I have too much work for that."
Amusing reason. Yoahim smiled and took the book.
"Head to the first floor, then. I'll contact Merilda."
"Thank you. See you tomorrow."
Yoahim bowed to Gregorius and descended to the first floor the same way he'd come up.
Merilda, handling paperwork, spotted him and beamed.
"Oh, there you are! Looks like your talk with the Chairman went well. The mage dorms are on the fifth floor. Here's your key—don't lose it! Room number's on it."
Yoahim nodded and took the key. As he headed to the inter-floor teleporter for the fifth floor, the tower door opened.
In walked a middle-aged man with a stylish curled mustache, followed by a cowed young man. Yoahim recognized one.
"Hey? You!"
Genie spotted Yoahim and yelled, looking ready to charge.
"You bastard! How dare you—!"
"Oh, Genie. Find your pass yet?"
"I wasted time because of you! It wasn't at the fountain intersection—it was in my pocket!"
"Good for you. You found it anyway, right?"
Genie's face flushed at Yoahim's teasing tone. He lunged in rage, but—
"Enough, Genie. It was your fault for not checking if you had it. No more embarrassing me."
The man gently scolded Genie, then smiled at Yoahim.
"I'm Lawrence. I apologize on behalf of my inadequate apprentice. It's my failing as a teacher."
Lawrence—the council member the guard mentioned, Genie's master. Unlike his disciple, he seemed a decent fellow.
Yoahim accepted the apology.
"I'm Yoahim. It's fine—no need to apologize."
"Not a mage, yet here at the tower? If I can help with anything, let me know."
"All good. Came for a quest report, already spoke to the Chairman. Staying the night for other business."
"Hmm. Meeting Gregorius means it's serious. Curious, but council meeting soon—I'll hear then. We're busy, so excuse us."
Lawrence nodded lightly and passed Yoahim, Genie scurrying after with one last glare.
Punk, what're you gonna do, stare me to death?
Yoahim chuckled and stepped into the teleporter. Destination: fifth floor.
He arrived instantly and checked the key: 507. The room at the far end.
Inside: bed, desk, one chair. Clearly just for crashing during research.
Yoahim dropped his bag and flopped onto the bed. Tower bedding beat any inn.
"...Sleepy."
He'd trekked nonstop from Veros's cave to Barakan. Exhaustion and drowsiness were natural.
Yoahim stared at the old book from the bed. What was this thing? Written in script even Gregorius couldn't read. Really just a prank?
He pondered long but found no answers. Lying there, he blinked vacantly, intervals lengthening. Consciousness sank slowly.
Into darkness where one step in meant no easy return.
Where's this?
When he came to, only darkness. Not the kind from closed eyes—this space was darkness.
Night already? No. Yoahim recognized it.
This was the dream space where he'd first heard the evil god Kakali's voice.
No offering this time—why again?
Something stirred in the dark. Invisible, yet visible. Yoahim sensed Kakali.
The god was here.
A silhouette emerged from the shadows. Amid the blur, it stood clear. Every line boasted divine beauty.
Unlike before, Kakali revealed even her silhouette. Not enough to know her full form, but one thing was clear.
What a kind soul... Yoahim thought blankly.
"My child, my knight. It is pronounced Ha, Mek, Shan."
A low, husky, androgynous voice tickled his ear.
What nonsense is this?
"Ha, Mek, Shan. Just pronounce it."
Explain it first!
"My child, just pronounce it! Ha, Mek, Shan!"
The thunderous command crushed any resistance. Yoahim unwittingly uttered the three words.
Just saying them sent chills down his spine. He understood nothing of their meaning, but the instant they left his lips, his mind clouded.
Laughter echoed sharply, and Yoahim's consciousness was expelled into darkness.
"Gasp!"
Yoahim bolted up, drenched in cold sweat, panting. He instinctively looked at his hands.
The tightly shut book lay open on its own, emanating eerie purple light in all directions.
What did I unseal?