Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: The Tower of Cognition
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Despite this, the Hall of Phenomena was deathly silent.
Hearts were stirring, but they couldn't exactly celebrate the Tower Master's defeat.
Everyone glanced cautiously at Elmaer.
His face remained impassive as he watched the Loan in the mirror before turning his gaze to the real Loan.
“That was an incredible demonstration. Now I see with my own eyes why the world doesn't hesitate to call you a genius. Wouldn't you agree?”
The Tower's elders were all too stunned to answer the Tower Master's question.
Elmaer continued.
“I never imagined such an application was possible, let alone that you could pull it off on the spot. However, from the perspective of a spell's purpose—to defeat an enemy—I must still raise a question mark.”
The Tower Master struggled to protect his shattered pride.
Loan added a word to help the Tower Master save face.
“The Tower Master is right. The manifestation of magic must have a clear purpose. If that purpose is the destruction of an opponent, and one already possesses the power to achieve it, there's no need to incorporate telekinesis.”
“That is what I meant. It seems we both have room to grow. I have learned a great deal from my junior.”
It's not easy for someone of his stature to humble himself so gracefully.
Everyone knew that.
And so, applause began to spread. The quiet sounds mingled, starting to fill the hall.
The magic of the Tower Master and Loan had been more than enough to stir the hearts of the onlookers.
And to ignite a fire within their chests.
Elmaer personally took Loan's hand and raised it high, clearly acknowledging his victory.
It was only when Loan saw Stife's face, streaming with tears, that he began to grasp just how incredible his accomplishment was.
“Thank you.”
Loan expressed his gratitude to those who had showered him with cheers and applause.
The commotion grew louder.
Too many people were crowding in.
A flood of questions. Of praise.
He was so swamped by the crowd that he could barely stay on his feet.
Fortunately, the Tower Master, who had expended a considerable amount of mana, couldn't handle the surging crowd.
He shouted with all his might to push the mages back, then, mustering his remaining energy, he spoke.
“It may have been a demonstration, but what strength could a young mage possibly have left after using such magic? You, of all people, should know that. How can you be so discourteous!”
Loan was about to say he was fine, but he closed his mouth.
The Tower Master expressed his displeasure with them for stagnating while the Union was advancing so much, urging them to return immediately and devote themselves to training.
Still, those who were disappointed couldn't bring themselves to leave.
Murmurs of discontent rose from all around.
The Tower Master, perhaps unable to keep speaking so harshly, softened his tone.
As if he fully understood how they felt.
“Loan has to go to the Tower of Cognition anyway. Isn't it proper for seniors to disperse for today? I'll take responsibility and prepare a special lecture, so don't be too disappointed.”
It was an uncoordinated announcement, but Loan nodded in affirmation.
The mages left the Hall of Phenomena, still filled with lingering disappointment.
Ulline didn't lower his raised thumb until Loan was out of sight, and Loan met his gaze with a smile.
Then, as if it had been waiting, a voice called out.
“Hey, you!”
Loan approached the Loan in the mirror, who was calling out to him desperately.
“I will take responsibility and ensure that what you wish for comes to pass.”
“How will you take responsibility?”
he asked, curious.
The Loan in the mirror laughed loudly again, as if finding the question absurd.
“So you can be that bold with me. You have quite the audacious streak. I've never met a human so unpredictable.”
“…”
Loan waited for an answer.
The Loan in the mirror let out a deep sigh. Curiously, condensation fogged the mirror's surface.
“I am the Tower itself. What more needs to be said?”
“That doesn't really seem like an answer, but I'll choose to believe you for now.”
“Hahaha. Interesting. Is there anything else you're curious about?”
“Where are you? And don't just say 'inside the mirror.'”
“The other side of the mirror. The other side of phenomena. The other side of the world.”
“Another dimension, something like that?”
“Yes. Somewhere between the mortal realm and the demon world. A world without substance. Does that make sense?”
“…”
Loan wondered if the place Aul disappeared to was the same as the world inside the mirror.
But he couldn't ask. It would mean revealing too much information.
So he changed the question.
“Can I enter that place too?”
“Hmm?”
Come to think of it, no one had ever attempted such a thing, nor had anyone ever asked how.
Not in all these long years.
The Loan in the mirror answered.
“I don't know. I tried to find a way out, but I couldn't. So if you want to, you'll probably have to find a way yourself.”
“That makes sense.”
None of his major questions had been answered, but he was satisfied for now.
After all, today wasn't his only chance.
Right now, the priority was to pass through the three remaining pillars and ascend to the Tower of Manifestation, where Commander Magda was.
And more importantly, he needed to firmly bring the mages of Schwerin to the Union's side, as they would be a great asset in the future battles against the demons and the Graves.
Loan bid farewell to the Loan in the mirror, promising to visit again, and approached the Tower Master of Phenomena.
“Thank you for your consideration in many ways. Now, I believe I will head to the Tower of Cognition.”
“Mmm. I suppose you must. I finally understand why the mages were so disappointed.”
Loan bowed to the Tower Master and the elders, whose mouths were still hanging open.
Then he approached the others, who were still overcome with emotion.
“Shall we go?”
Stife, Joseph, and the other modernist mages followed Loan with joyful hearts.
They suddenly wondered.
They tried to recall just how they had come to follow him.
“…”
For some reason, they couldn't quite remember.
They had never imagined a scene like this, so they couldn't predict what would happen next.
As if certain they were thinking the same thing, Stife and Joseph looked at each other.
“We have a duty to witness the wonders that will unfold today.”
“Let us become the recorders of history.”
Making such a vow that strayed from the point.
The modernist mages followed Loan toward the Tower of Cognition.
Kiiiiiii-
The massive iron gate leading out of the Tower of Phenomena let out a hideous scream.
There was only one way into the Tower from across the lake: the bridge that had been guarded by the mana storm Loan had dispelled.
After that, one had to pass through the pillar-like Towers in succession. The Towers were connected to each other by bridges.
Stife said.
“I used to belong to the Tower of Cognition. I first crossed this bridge to enter it when I was twelve, and I stepped on it for the second time when I left the Tower after turning sixty.”
“Then today is.”
“The third time.”
He seemed deeply moved. It was hard to imagine how he felt.
But this was a good chance to get some information about the Tower of Cognition beforehand.
Fortunately, the bridge was exceedingly long.
Loan asked.
“What kind of place is the Tower of Cognition?”
“Its Tower Master is quite unique. A bibliophile, you could say. Reads an absurd number of books.”
Loan was very pleased to hear that.
Hearing that the person loved books, he held a small hope that things might go smoothly this time as well.
“Cognition means to observe and analyze phenomena to understand their meaning, doesn't it?”
“That's right. It's a very academic place. I, too, was drawn to the appeal of approaching magic from a scholarly perspective. When you go inside, you'll find the atmosphere quite different from the Tower of Phenomena, which should be interesting.”
And at last, they reached the entrance to the Tower of Cognition.
Even though they weren't accompanied by anyone from the Tower of Phenomena, the mages of the Tower of Cognition let them in without any particular identity check or questions about their purpose.
The moment Loan stepped through the entrance, he understood what Stife had said.
The atmosphere was certainly quite different.
The most surprising part was that the entire Tower was a single, open structure.
The second was the books that filled the circular walls.
Just how many books were shelved there?
It was beyond astonishing.
The building's outer walls were essentially one giant bookshelf.
The bookshelf was divided into fifteen vertical sections. Those probably corresponded to the floors of the Tower of Phenomena.
Loan lowered his gaze.
Except for the central hall, the building's only floor was filled with nothing but tables and chairs.
Mages sat at the tables, with few empty seats, reading and studying.
The Tower of Cognition resembled a library.
But fortunately, there was no need to whisper or be overly cautious.
“The mage who proposed and proved the propositions of controlling a fireball with telekinesis and converting a telekinetically controlled object into a fireball; the mage who analyzed fire-attribute magic itself and shattered the internal bonds of a fire sphere by controlling the size and density of mana, as well as the complexity of its binding strength and structure. Runner Loan of the Union's Faith Division, specialized in the manipulation and harmony of elemental magic, has arrived.”
Following this grand introduction, all the seated mages turned toward Loan and began to applaud.
Clap, clap, clap, clap-
Walking down the path between the rows of desks on either side, Loan gave slight nods in response to the cheers.
Yet his gait remained composed. Incredibly elegant and proper.
As some mages let out gasps of admiration at the picturesque scene.
He was heading toward the very center of the Tower.
In the middle of a small, circular hall stood a massive granite pillar.
The muted black panel encircling the pillar's exterior was a chalkboard in itself.
One that emanated considerable mana.
Loan walked on, guessing that the chalkboard served a similar role to the 'Other Side of Phenomena.'
More precisely, he walked toward a single mage standing in front of the pillar, waiting for him.
Her mana was the most outstanding in this space, so Loan had no trouble discerning her identity.
Soon, they stood face to face, and Loan offered his greeting.
“Runner Loan of the Union’s Faith Division.”
“Anke Evjen, Tower Master of Cognition. I have been awaiting your visit for a long time.”
“This is a very impressive place. From all these books to that enormous chalkboard. Is that chalkboard the guardian of this tower?”
He asked his question right after the brief greeting.
The Tower Master of Cognition didn't seem to mind Loan's attitude; she smiled.
“Yes. That chalkboard watches over the process of understanding, developing, and advancing formulas, and it protects the mages.”
An unexpected word came up, and he asked again.
“Protects them? How so?”
“It reviews and verifies the formulas written by the mages on it. It analyzes for errors and checks in advance for anything that might endanger the caster's life.”
“Wow…”
Loan was amazed by the chalkboard's unexpected ability.
“That's truly incredible. I have no idea how that's possible.”
“It is the mystery of the Five Guardians. We don't know when the chalkboard began to display such an ability. Unlike the mirror in the Tower of Phenomena, it is not a being one can converse with. We have simply written on it for a long time, accepting the reflected results, revising, and revising again. The advancement of magic was not achieved by chance.”
Her answer was filled with pride.
Loan nodded, feeling a little disappointed.
Then, just in case, he spoke to the chalkboard just as he had to the Other Side of Phenomena.
Using his mind-tongue, he directed his thoughts toward the area where the mana felt thickest.
[Hello. Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Runner Loan of the Union's Faith Division.]
In that instant, the chalkboard began to hum with a deep *woooong*.
The Tower itself vibrated, and the books packed onto the shelves resonated with the hum.
It wasn't violent like an earthquake.
Rather, it felt incredibly warm and comforting.
This had never happened before.
The Tower Master and the mages, not understanding the reason, looked around frantically, trying to find the source.
Goosebumps covered their arms.
Loan smiled and said to the Tower Master.
“So the chalkboard's name is the Reflection of Cognition. It seems pleased to meet me.”
“Huh?”
The Tower Master of Cognition wore a blank expression.