Lesson (3): The Rampaging Tower Master
Lee Hoyeol and Marcelo. The two chief mages noticed it first and sprang into action. Yet even so, the reason all the Mage Tower seniors, led by Elder Yugweed, had mobilized was simple. The Tower Master was the being closest to the pinnacle of magic.
Hoyeol had only recently formed his circles. By contrast, the Tower Master had done so in time immemorial.
Thus Yugweed had judged: even if Hoyeol had become a transcendent, he could not overcome the gap in experience.
Of course, it was a colossal miscalculation.
Banggrit Tom stammered.
“I-it's too one-sided!”
Hoyeol was overwhelming the Tower Master unilaterally. As if their very realms were different.
No matter what ultra-high-rank spell the Tower Master unleashed, Hoyeol showed no hint of alarm.
Yugweed chuckled despite herself.
“I can't even count how many times I've been surprised today.”
Wasn't this exactly what excessive worry looked like?
A mage's duel differed from a warrior's clash of sword and shield. There was no such thing as evenly matched. Magic stemmed from mana. Victory was decided as the stronger spell devoured the weaker one.
“As expected of the Tower Master. That level of flame magic...!”
Bensy William, senior flame mage.
Flame magic exemplified this principle best. It was why Bensy had dreaded facing the fire dragon, Karimjeba—the property of flames riding larger flames.
But if it's this chief mage...
The one who subdued Karimjeba. He would counter with flame magic of his own, Bensy predicted.
But then.
“Ice magic?!”
The doubt didn't last.
“Impossible. Suppressing the Tower Master with a counter-element...?”
It wasn't once. Every time the Tower Master cast a spell, Hoyeol retaliated with its elemental counter.
The sight was like...
Payan Lot, senior spirit mage, spoke cautiously.
“...like he's kindly teaching her?”
“Teaching? What?”
“That what you know isn't everything.”
“...!!!”
Indeed. As Hoyeol cast, it felt like he was speaking.
Standing tall, overlooking all. Proclaiming it.
That what they knew was not all.
Shocking enough on its own. But Matis knew Hoyeol's talent extended beyond mere magic.
His unfathomable affinity for mana. His genius for black magic surpassed mere magical talent.
Thus he could declare confidently.
“I can assure you.”
“Of what, Senior Matis?”
“That even now, this chief mage isn't using his full power.”
“...For real?”
“Have you ever seen me joke?”
*
Why, there's a saying in reality. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
I could apply it here. Any sufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from transcendent power!
Truly monstrous spellcasting prowess.
Even with the same circles, the time embodied differed. If my casting was boosted 1,000% by circle effects, the Tower Master poured out spells at least at 2,000% output.
In that sense, well done, Hoyeol.
Good thing I matched her realm in magic first.
From cultivating spirit herbs to growing elixirs and forcibly forming circles. Without that ordeal, even as a transcendent, I couldn't have countered those monstrous ultra-high spells.
Anyway...
“There is no law that the established path is always right.”
Don't talk like you're actually teaching a class, Grandfell?
I neutralized the berserk Tower Master's barrage of ultra-high spells while chattering away.
The Tower Master was unconscious from the start—why address her?
“Magic is no exception.”
No, she can't hear you anyway!
“Magic's affinities? Do not confine yourself to limits.”
Impossible isn't in my dictionary.
Out come such quotable lines.
They sound so profound.
Arcana folk might buy my made-up words.
I was lending credibility by countering from every angle.
Thus, exclamation marks still filled Jessie's pupils.
“Do not confine yourself to limits! I'll remember!”
...Please.
The world might not know. But I, the one spouting it, do.
How simplistic my transcendent power is!
Just basic science added to magic. Concepts anyone could Google and grasp.
Of course, I know it's not easy.
Because it's so different.
Hell, without Grandfell's setting, I'd be clueless about magic's structure. Wouldn't even realize it differed from skills.
But even shamelessness has limits. I don't want to strut on this.
Yet my pleas won't surface. My mouth stays composed.
“Still don't understand?”
No reply, naturally.
“No answer means affirmation.”
Every word tortures me with shame.
But this shamelessness never once spared my shame.
I flicked my jacket and continued.
“Resuming the lesson.”
Marcelo gazed at Hoyeol.
Truly, Your Excellency grows day by day. Especially in transcendent matters.
“To say we walk the same path shames me.”
Marcelo had delved into this world's science as much as magic. But inserting new concepts into interference processes? Headache-inducing.
Especially now, head muddled.
His gaze shifted from Hoyeol to the Tower Master. Overwhelming. No chance for her.
The Tower Master knew it too, yet...
Bleeding profusely.
She cast ultra-high spells indiscriminately, body at its limit.
Marcelo gritted his teeth.
I'm resolved, Your Excellency.
He didn't know why. She wouldn't answer questions.
But it was blatantly dangerous. If Hoyeol hadn't intervened, a Meteor Strike would have half-destroyed the adventurers' world.
Considering the Mage Tower's debts to Hoyeol...
Even without him, Marcelo—or the Tower—would have stopped her.
Hoyeol, the other party, knew victory's direction best.
Yet for some reason, he hadn't ended it since earlier.
No sign of the Tower Master's mind turning.
Yet Hoyeol upheld his own words fully.
“Resuming the lesson.”
A lesson. Literally. As if imparting enlightenment to the Tower Master.
Merely countering her spells.
“Why go that far...”
It was beyond even Marcelo, who yearned most for her awakening.
He stared at the Tower Master. Her form frozen in time. Only one change: her pupils. The usual languor replaced by utter vacancy. As if her soul had fled.
“Why appear like this...”
His ever-cool head reeled.
Then a voice: apprentice mage Jessie Haynes.
“I just realized. That's the Tower Master, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then I have words for you, Chief Marcelo.”
Jessie knew why the Tower Master was mute, unleashing spells wildly. As a grand archmage, she knew the previous grand archmage's consciousness dwelt in the pointed hat.
Thus she couldn't ignore Marcelo's anguish.
“...So you're saying.”
Marcelo's voice trembled roughly.
“The Tower Master was the previous grand archmage?”
Jessie nodded.
Marcelo finally understood why an apprentice like Jessie was here.
And recalled the missive on parchment.
“...Was it all planned from then?”
That eternally languid face. Purpose hidden beneath.
But foolish, Tower Master.
“A goal worth staking your life?”
None existed in this world.
“That's no truth.”
Watching Hoyeol, Marcelo realized. Thus he could shout at her.
“Was this truly the end you desired?!”
The Tower Master didn't turn. Just traded spells with Hoyeol.
Still, Marcelo yelled, veins bulging.
“Did you never regret it, not once? I regretted every moment. Why I couldn't see my failings when you were awake. Now I thought I could prove myself before you...!”
No answer.
“Did you have to deceive me like this?!”
Marcelo's cry reached all.
Jessie bit her lip. New to her, yet it felt like her fault as a grand archmage. Unsettled.
“...”
The Mage Tower fell silent.
Bellie Yusia clenched her fist subtly. Couldn't fathom Marcelo's loss.
Unaltered was only Hoyeol. Ignoring Marcelo's anguish. Relentlessly trading spells.
As if truly teaching the uncomprehending body.
To some, foolish. To others, cold. To yet others, unyielding pride.
But to the system, ever the same.
A small change occurs.
The Tower Master's lips twitched.
“...I did not desire such an end.”
And.
“Too late.”
Hoyeol heard the voice.
“But if you realize now, it suffices.”
Yes.
I'd been waiting for that.
Wrong from the start, right? In magic terms, the exploration phase was flawed.
Why need life as collateral to approach transcendent power?
Think Grandfell would stand by while they staked lives for it?
Yeah, you grand archmages.
I eyed the flickering quest objective.
● Slay the Rampaging Tower Master's Body.
🎯 Status: In Progress
Tower Master. If you thought I'd meekly follow your plan, big mistake.
I'd just learned of another path.
Scattering mana particles.
“...Huh?”
Those particles thread into Jessie's pointed hat.
Yes, that's the other path. The conclusion shown by Aesthetics at its peak.
Lessons learned must be used promptly or forgotten.
Thus I didn't hesitate. Reached for Jessie's hat.
Tap—
More focused than ever, I probed the hat.
Forcibly separating body and consciousness, right?
Naturally traced the Tower Master's mana residue within.
Discerned the spell's structure from it.
Then spoke.
“Jessie Haynes.”
“...Yes! I can't look up, but I'm listening!”
...Did I press too hard? Sorry, but no time for apologies. Even procedure demanded haste.
“May I reclaim your master from you?”
“The master— the Tower Master's consciousness?”
“Indeed.”
Immediate reply.
“Of course! That's the proper procedure!”
As expected—impeccable manners, whoever taught her.
Swift consent from both parties.
I drew mana. Cast reversal magic.
Simultaneously, my vision flickered.
● Slay the Rampaging Tower Master's Body.
🎯 Status:Failed
The message's meaning was simple.
“You've grown much, little Chief Marcelo.”
“...!”
“And owe a great debt. Chief Lee Hoyeol.”
The Tower Master's consciousness had returned to her body.