Chapter 155
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
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His conversation with Frannan dragged on quite a bit.
And in the process, he learned one piece of information.
"The search party... is crossing the border?"
"Yeah, that's probably the plan. First time crossing the border?"
"Yes, since being transferred, I've only operated in Nevenia."
"Hmm... well, yeah. Most transfers don't stray far from where they first appeared anyway."
Kang Seol figured that since he'd been forcibly saddled with this adventure anyway, he might as well gather as much info as possible.
"The current master of the Scales Tower is...?"
"Lord Bernoulli. Never even heard the name?"
"Wouldn't it be weirder if a transfer like me remembered all twelve tower masters' names?"
"Fair point. I don't remember them all either. Not many stick around as tower masters for long."
- Isn't that... kind of a problem?
- Excuse me, but what's our company president's name again?
- Kim... uh, Kim... what was it...?
"Why's that?"
"Overwork, old age, research mishaps, etcetera. Being a tower master comes with a heavy load, and it's no cushy job."
"Hmm..."
"Don't like crossing the border? Got roots here or something?"
Kang Seol scratched his chin as he replied.
"Not really."
It was just worry about where they'd head after the border and whether he could keep up his current pace of growth there.
"But I'm curious why they're crossing the border."
"Well, the discussions about the search party happen at the Scales Tower, right? And the Scales Tower isn't in Nevenia, obviously."
"True."
"And it's because of where Lord Bernoulli headed. Ever heard of Alcatron?"
Alcatron. It was a place Kang Seol had never heard of.
"Where's that?"
"A recently excavated ruin. But during the dig, some unknown energy leaked out, halting the work."
"Hmm..."
"Like ruins often have, maybe magic beasts are involved. But no one's taking this lightly. At least the Scales Tower Master isn't some weakling who'd vanish without a trace."
"So something big enough to silence him might've happened there."
Frannan nodded.
"Exactly. And one tricky part: getting to the Scales Tower is easy, but the road to Alcatron? That's rough."
"...Ah!"
"Know why?"
"Magic beast territories?"
"Yeah, and heteroraces mixed in... but they won't just let us pass."
"No way around via another border?"
"Sadly, that defeats the purpose. It'd take way too long."
A warlike horde of heteroraces and magic beasts.
Just passing through sounded burdensome.
'This... might turn into an insanely dangerous adventure.'
He was confident in protecting himself, but for some reason, this quest felt off.
'No way to refuse... so I guess I'll prepare like hell.'
Kang Seol thought that as he eyed Frannan's complexion. But Frannan looked strange right now.
Even though he'd decided to return to the tower, he was groaning and sweating like there was some issue.
Seeing this frail side from the usually gruff Frannan piqued Kang Seol's curiosity about his past.
"...Something wrong?"
"Wrong? Haha! No? What wrong?"
"If it's nothing, fine, but you look anxious."
"......"
"Did something happen during your time as a Holy Seat?"
"During?"
"Huh?"
"Who stepped down? I'm still a Holy Seat. Haven't retired yet. Just... taking a break."
"I thought you'd quit the Holy Seat."
Frannan stared off into the distance with hazy eyes.
"Well, to be precise, I wanted to quit being a mage."
Two men and women wearing glowing epaulets were sharing a meal and chatting amiably.
If you knew what those emblems on their epaulets signified, you'd grasp just how elite this gathering was.
Dining together here were the Scales Holy Seats, Yurin and Frannan.
Both now old enough to be called elders.
Yurin chewed noisily on her meat and said to Frannan,
"You headache of a man, you think magic's something only you know? Stuff that doesn't make logical sense to others is just trickery, like street magic."
"Then call me a magician."
"Rotten bastard."
"What now...?"
"You need to pass on what you've got for the future. Know how much Lord Bernoulli nags my ribs about it?"
"Why?"
"To lure you in and make you take a disciple."
"I've told you old fogeys, I'm not taking any."
"We're both old fogeys! Anyway, you live off your own smugness, no help to the tower at all. Why'd Lord Veil bother taking in a ragamuffin like you and add wrinkles to my face?"
"Sheesh..."
Frannan was a master of enchantment magic.
The Yurin before him was a master of mental magic.
Frannan glanced slyly and tossed out,
"Not bragging about that prized disciple of yours today?"
"Wanna hear?"
"Hell no. You yap about nothingburgers every other day, so I half-expected you'd brag today about how she finally learned to potty."
"You'd listen if I did?"
"You nuts? You old hag!"
"I manage with dignity, unlike you—still got that seductive middle-aged charm wafting off me?"
"Sure, sure..."
Frannan chuckled, enjoying the banter with Yurin.
Mages usually led solitary lives, battling themselves along their own path.
But seeing another mage of similar caliber striving to advance brought a sense of relief.
...You're not alone.
Yurin had a 17-year-old disciple named Ebony.
Frannan couldn't fathom why she'd take one and bleed for it, but she seemed to enjoy it. He didn't like that.
"Why take a kid with no talent...?"
The words were harsh, but Yurin acknowledged it.
"Dumb kid, but sweet."
"Same as saying sweet kids are dumb."
"Isn't that better? Personality or skill—which comes first? Even mages argue that."
"Obvious: skill."
"Personality. You trained under Lord Veil, yet you prioritize backwards?"
"That's why I caught up to you and we can sit here swapping empty talk, no?"
"...Hate to admit it, but spot on. Damn lone wolf..."
"And I didn't change. Just realized reality. Train successors? I still feel short on time myself."
Yurin wiped her mouth with a cloth and said,
"Bet on it: no mage but the first started from rock bottom. Humans are weak, but we accumulate and build knowledge. That's why magic evolved."
"So race ahead max and leave records."
"Records aren't teaching—they lack kindness. No power to lift the fallen. What you build is just a cold wall future mages can't surmount."
They often clashed over this. Frannan, refusing disciples, was a headache even at the Scales Tower.
Frannan cautiously bared his heart.
"I... don't think I'm the guy for that. I'm no great mage."
"...Great mages don't dream of the future."
Yurin's eyes were kind and warm.
"Mages do."
"Still, Ebony's too much."
"Damn brat... the kid's sweet, I said."
He should've stopped her more, pried harder.
Told her that dim disciple wouldn't aid her path.
Frannan regretted it.
Watching Yurin's final sane moments.
"Yurin! Y-you crazy? No! Don't!"
Ziiiiiing...
"Back off, Yurin! Ebony's a lost cause! Can't save her!"
"No, I can save her! I'm a Holy Seat mage...!"
"Mana's rampaging! Damn it, it's way past fixing! Holy Seat or whatever, you idiot human! Just let it blow!"
"How can you say that...?"
Ebony's research had thoroughly failed.
Too young for greatness, lacking talent, rife with errors.
The result: mana rampage in her body.
At her level, she couldn't handle it—her mind would shatter, leaving her an idiot.
Yet now, her master stepped in. Frannan sensed it: Yurin meant to bear Ebony's failure herself.
Yurin said to Frannan,
"She's my disciple, Frannan."
"You... you...!"
"Frannan, if I fail..."
She entrusted him with something. A request Frannan could never forget.
"No! I won't!"
"Don't whine, then... please."
"Yurin! Why... why do this...?"
Yurin smiled, flashing white teeth.
"I'm a mage."
Chijijijijijijik...
With crackling lightning, a storm of mental magic swept the lab.
It all happened in an instant, plunging the entire Scales Tower into grief.
Thus, Frannan left the tower.
"That why?"
Kang Seol asked flatly after hearing Frannan's tale. Frannan downed shots in reply.
"Yeah, still haunted by that nightmare. Can't escape that day."
"...I see."
"Sorry for the depressing story. Anyway, we'll head out once prepped. Keep it in mind."
"Got it."
Swoosh...
As Kang Seol left, Frannan muttered alone.
Crash-!
He hurled his glass, recalling Yurin's state post-incident.
- Uncle, who're you?
- ...Don't remember me?
- First time seeing you?
- ...When'd you get here?
- Yesterday! Officially joined yesterday!
- ......
- Uncle?
- Incredible.
Yurin, in an old woman's body, now housed the mind of her 7-year-old past self.
- Uncle, you a big shot here?
- ...No.
An aged granny speaking like a child—he couldn't help but crumble.
"Don't wanna go back..."
From that day, he yearned to run forever.
"Bro, see ya next time!"
"Yeah, sorry it was short."
"You're busy, but you'll come back to Nevenia, right?"
"We'll see."
"Somi noona'll blow up at me without a firm yes. Give me something solid."
"I'll keep in touch."
Jo Kyung-taek sighed in relief, patting his chest.
Kang Seol had wanted to catch up with Jo Kyung-taek, still in Timbrian, but his packed schedule allowed only a brief meet.
"Phew... that's a relief."
"Work go well?"
"Yeah, but that noble from before wants to repay you sometime."
"Me?"
"Well... I mentioned how you helped me back then... shouldn't have?"
"Nah, it's your call."
Fearing Kang Seol's annoyance, Jo Kyung-taek smiled at the mild reaction.
"Can't a bro who's buddies talk up his bro a bit?"
"...Yeah?"
"Right? Clock Tower Hero this, bell-ringing man that—they yap, and my mouth itches to join in."
"......"
The lantern-trapped Lament overheard and chimed in.
【Is that so? Hate being called that? Fine... I'll make sure to shout it every time others are around! Kehkehkeh... Even I think that's wicked naughty.】
- This guy's got your number perfectly.
- That's peak evil spirit mischief.
- Maybe faking tameness.
Lament weathered Kang Seol's glare and went quiet.
"Anyway, catch ya later."
"Yeah, bro. Stay healthy. Text for sure! Noona first!"
Kang Seol nodded with a smile.
Clank...
The ornate carriage door behind swung open, Frannan half-leaning out.
"Hop on. We're off."
"Yes."
Kang Seol boarded.
An unexpected face was inside.
"...Carmelly?"
"Uh... yeah... long time no see?"
"What's this?"
Frannan replied indifferently.
"Requested pilgrims via Zodiac. Expect support from Nevenia diocese and beyond."
"That big a deal?"
"Sorta, sorta not. Anyway, it'll be sizable."
To drag in unrelated pilgrims—Kang Seol wondered how many were involved in this adventure.
"Hm?"
"...Huh?"
Two more unfamiliar faces rode along, yet oddly familiar.
Kang Seol tilted his head.
"Don't think we've met?"
A man and a young woman.
Kang Seol especially felt he'd seen the man before.
"Long time no see, Snowman. It's me."
"Yeah, knew it. So... where from?"
The man's gaze drifted to Kang Seol's belt.
Kang Seol recalled.
The man, now quite different.
"Ah! That time...!"
Unlike his cold expression, he'd advised Kang Seol back then.
Even the tower invitation in Kang Seol's possession came from him.
"Lord Blaine?"