Starting Tower Repairs Today
Once upon a time, the Iron Tower Master had dreamed of this.
Iron mages surging ahead, shoving aside all the elemental mages. Battle mages turning the tide of war and being hailed as heroes in a new era...
He had thought himself different. But now he lived with the harsh realization of how arrogant that delusion had been.
There were countless geniuses. As time passed, they sprouted up like mushrooms after rain, and many surpassed him. They all chose convenient, powerful elemental magic.
"Ooh... This can't be..."
"My unique ability is creating objects that store and manifest magic. With this, I can become a battle mage. It'll be the most efficient path."
"You're right. That's spot on. This can't be..."
The Tower Master knew it too.
Artifacts, long passed down as legends. Relics no one could recreate anymore.
If Lawrence truly created artifacts, he had to be protected at all costs. Only then could he raise a disciple who would etch a mark in world history.
Lawrence's value was immense. A nation—no, the entire world—wouldn't suffice as payment.
"Protect me and raise me. I'll repay the favor handsomely."
"W-wait a moment. Then why come to the Iron Tower? You could've allied with any other tower."
"My family hates me. They've all been bought off by Media Montemer."
Lawrence calmly explained his situation. Since he was entrusting his safety here, he needed to stir the Tower Master's sympathy.
'Nothing tugs at the heart like a poor child's tale.'
He revealed just a sliver of his story. Growing up alone as a child, abandoned in the annex like trash, treated like garbage for lacking a Mana Road... And crucially, Media's hatred for him.
Iron Hanma felt genuine pity upon hearing it all.
A bastard son might be disliked. But trying to kill the child...?
"Heavens, even so, this is too much."
"That's why I chose here. Sorry if it upset you."
"No, no. Quite the opposite—it's a blessing. Crisis is opportunity, and entering a tiger's den requires full preparation."
The Tower Master saw Media's actions as a grave mistake, foolishly discarding Lawrence's value. He could understand it somewhat—humans often missed huge chances over trivial reasons. How many turned away from perfection over one flaw? Especially in relationships.
"I'll lend what little power I have. Even if you don't become Montemer patriarch, you won't face life-threatening dangers anywhere."
"Thank you."
A win-win for both the Iron Tower and Lawrence. The tower gained mighty firepower; Lawrence, a powerful ally.
An unspoken agreement formed between them.
Lawrence scanned the tower's dilapidated interior—cracks everywhere—and spoke.
They'd shown trust; now he had to reciprocate. It benefited him most, but to others, it'd look like diligent work.
Tower repairs.
"Just give me artifact materials and time. I'll fix this tower first."
"Haha... Call for help anytime. I'll support you fully."
"Thank you."
With the Tower Master's official permission, Lawrence moved immediately.
Thus secured, his artifact crafting time.
Evenings for group physical training, days repairing the tower to level up his Dragon Body.
'Nice—I'll make the most of it.'
Unlike his listless previous life.
Here in the Iron Tower, he had to prepare to soar farther.
Two years. That should suffice.
Lawrence hurried to the materials warehouse.
"Starting repairs now."
"Looking forward to it. Haha!"
The Tower Master's laughter echoed long after.
#2
Materials warehouse.
The Iron Tower's outer walls kept crumbling, unable to withstand the ravages of time. No building endured forever, but this tower suffered especially.
[Ruins of the Iron Tower]
"That makes sense."
Lawrence's eyes clearly saw it. The tower sustained by mana, and the mana leaking into the air.
Power escaped from every crack and break.
'Just seal those.'
The Iron Tower was made with special materials. Ordinary people can't repair it.
"No expert techniques needed, but it'll be grueling. No helpers, after all."
Lawrence nodded. Ultimately, only he could solve the core issue.
Were other towers similar? Who knew.
He examined the scattered materials.
First caught his eye: a massive rectangular stone block.
◈ Engraving: Dragon Lair
◈ Dragon Lair: Dragon's nest. Its outer walls boast durability tougher than castle fortifications.
◈ Grants magic resistance ignoring spells below 5th Circle.
◈ Blocks attacks below mid-level aura.
◈ Crafting an artifact with this restores the Dragon Lair.
◈ Durability set by magic circle complexity.
◈ No separate extracts needed.
"Oh..."
The description continued below.
Engrave a magic circle into this material, complete the artifact, and embed it in the tower.
Lawrence began work at once.
"Display the magic circle."
Manifesting magic circle.
A fragmented magic circle appeared. Fitting for repairs—remnants of the original lingered.
Lawrence pulled a pen from his subspace and started mending it.
Work only he could do. Time to hustle.
Direct contact with Guardian's Legacy.
Power dwelling in Dragon Lair accelerates growth.
Repair progress boosts Dragon Body growth rate.
Inside fully repaired tower, Dragon Body grows automatically.
Dragon Lair: dragons' home and sanctuary. Growth here was natural.
One more reason to hurry.
"Big projects like this felt so rewarding after completion."
Time-consuming, sure. But straightforward—no overthinking.
Ideal for honing skills. Stick with it, and your glutes would bulk up too.
"Heave-ho!"
The tower ruins were insanely heavy. Treat it as training while hauling.
Lawrence decided to convert a corner of the warehouse into a workshop. No trailing dust to his quarters.
He settled in a clean, spacious spot, pen in hand.
This tiny pen would work miracles now.
Scritch-scratch.
The soft sound of pen on stone echoed faintly in the warehouse.
#3
"Where's the kid?"
"Working. Don't bother him."
"We train together soon. Shouldn't I fetch him...?"
"Mm, check the materials warehouse then. He's there."
Warehouse? Why...?
Dillon, former youngest before Lawrence, headed there, puzzled.
Rachel was handing out snacks to the mages.
Wish I could have some...
Shaking off the temptation, he prioritized the Tower Master's order.
There, he found Lawrence shifting a massive stone.
"Huff... Junior, what're you doing?"
"Ah, Dillon senior. Perfect timing. Help me out?"
"Suddenly?"
"Yeah. Need this up top on the tower."
Skipping research for... this?
Dillon considered scolding but held back. Maybe the Master ordered it. Who knew the circumstances.
"Sure. What do I do?"
"Just help carry."
"And this benefits you how?"
"Haha, you'll see."
Dillon took the groaning Lawrence's boulder effortlessly and stood behind him.
Lawrence inwardly marveled at his brute strength. Iron mages were knights who cast spells.
"Pretty heavy, guhmun. Were you hauling this alone? No senior bullying you in secret, right?"
"Nah. You'll get it when you see. First things first."
"Mm, no one uses this spot..."
They reached an abandoned room on the first floor. Once a training ground, abandoned due to leaks. Still damp and musty.
Dillon's expression mixed nostalgia and resignation.
"Even when we tried fixing it ourselves, the tower wouldn't hold. Wait... You're repairing this? Tell me who—who bullied our maknae!"
"No, it's not that. Yeah, you tried fixing it."
"Obviously. It's our home, where we chase dreams. Who else would maintain it?"
True enough. They'd given up as impossible.
Dillon asked again.
"I was 24 when I joined, maknae till you came. Now I'm 40. Long maknae life teaches you: we can't say no to unreasonable requests."
"Whoa... That's rough. You suffered."
Lawrence knew from his Korean military days. Even good seniors annoyed sometimes. Relationships, right?
"It's fine. I wanted this."
"Really?"
Lawrence nodded, resuming repairs.
Professional builders might scoff. But this was the artifact creator's domain. Fix a dragon's lair with dragon craft.
Repairs commencing.
Restoration: 57%
"Wha—!?"
Bzzz-crackle!
The plain stone block glowed brilliantly. The dormant magic circle resonated, slotting perfectly into the tower like a puzzle piece.
Where the light faded, a pristine wall gleamed.
"Oh, better than expected. Now, training time."
"Good lord... Junior, what are you?"
Lawrence just smiled.
