Does It Need Explaining?
Lick—the Tower Master licked the cotton ball on its paw. Gazing down at the Crystal Hall, it pondered. To think the Round Table Conference would change like this. Is it because it's a rolling stone that it could come up with such an idea?
"Meow—"
It was a purr of satisfaction. Why, even setting everything else aside. At last, it's living up to its name.
The conference unfolding in the circular Crystal Hall. Truly befitting a Round Table.
"A cat?"
"Did someone bring it?"
"No! It was sitting there when we entered."
"Aww, so cute. What's its name?"
"Cley, is now the time to get distracted by a cat?"
Cute, you say? These apprentices and adepts can't even see through a transformation spell inferior to polymorph.
Cute is what I should be saying to these fledglings.
"Meow."
Still, the hand scratching its chin wasn't half bad.
In the end, the Tower Master settled comfortably on an apprentice player's lap and watched the Round Table Conference. It was astonishing enough that mages of all ranks had gathered together, but even adventurers mixed in? Unthinkable in the old days.
That sight as well.
The seniors engaged in close conversation. The Tower Master purred as it thought.
Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol, no matter how I look at it, you're superior to me.
Suddenly, it sniffed and twitched its nose.
She's busy, it seems.
No trace of its disciple Jessie's scent. Of course, even if Jessie had attended the Round Table, it wouldn't have approached first. No face to show.
'A worthless master only causes trouble.'
Jessie, you must have blamed yourself, thinking it happened because of me. When it was all my own shortcomings.
But the Tower Master didn't worry about Jessie.
'Fortunate that you found a better master than me.'
Yes, Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol. He would be a far superior teacher.
Recalling Jessie brought back memories of times with her. What caught the Tower Master's eye then was none other than a smartphone.
Tap tap—the Tower Master nudged the player's hand with its front paw.
"What's up?"
"Meow."
"Want to play? Not now."
Pretending to focus on the conference after getting distracted anyway.
'I've already memorized your face, apprentice mage.'
Refuse to show me that smartphone screen, and I'll mete out severe punishment by Tower Master's authority.
Did its petty threat get through? The player held the smartphone toward the Tower Master.
"Here, watch this at least?"
On the screen was a NetTube video titled [Videos Cats Love]. Fish swimming endlessly in an aquarium.
The Tower Master thought.
'Indeed, intriguing.'
……No, not that.
'Let's check the world's news.'
The Tower Master, who had shared Jessie's senses from within the pointed hat, had even mastered knowledge of the players' exclusive [System]. Operating a smartphone was child's play. It had memorized it from peeking over shoulders.
Press—the Tower Master manipulated the smartphone with its paw pad.
The screen followed the cotton ball. Then, the front paw stopped.
A swarm of shooting stars streaking across the sky.
'Meteor Strike.'
No distortion in the memory engraved in its flesh.
'I truly manifested it.'
An ultra-high-rank spell. At that time, only its own body could have cast Meteor Strike.
Press—the Tower Master stamped its paw on the video. And soon.
"Mrrrow."
It sighed. It now knew why its body had ended up like this. Manifesting an ultra-high-rank spell ten times in a row. Mana exhaustion was the least of it. Its body had rampaged to the point of death.
'What grievance drove you to such extremes, my flesh?'
The trivial mewling lasted only a moment before a question arose.
'So how did Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol stop it?'
The Tower Master recalled all its magical knowledge. Yet no solution came to mind. Even manifesting a spell to halt Meteor Strike.
'The debris would still rain from the sky.'
That was why Meteor Strike was called an ultra-high-rank spell, a harbinger of apocalypse.
Was the answer in this video? The Tower Master glared intensely at the screen.
"What? The video changed? Let me play it again…"
"Hiss!"
"Whoa! Okay, I won't touch it."
Fur bristling, it watched the events of that day. And learned.
"……!"
The fact that Meteor Strike had been reversed back into the sky.
The Tower Master couldn't hide its shock. What manner of ultra-ultra-ultra-high-rank magic was this, Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol…?
*
Mage Tower. Marcelo's office.
"Perhaps I should have gone to you instead?"
"No need for concern."
"Then I'm relieved."
Clink—I eyed the teacup Marcelo set down. The teabag submerged within. Needless to say, green tea.
'All sorts of thoughts come to mind.'
Should I be grateful he considered my tastes without me saying? Or embarrassed that even in the Mage Tower, I'm served teabag green tea? How obsessed must I have been?
'…For now, moisten the throat.'
Right now, I needed mental stability.
"Fine aroma."
I set down the cup and looked at Marcelo's desk. There sat the cat—the Tower Master.
The Tower Master spoke brazenly.
"I intended to visit our next Tower Master directly."
What the hell! That's why my heart skipped and I rushed here at the mention of next Tower Master.
And visit where? You think I borrowed Marcelo's office for nothing?
"Regrettably, I must decline such kindness."
I, Lee Hoyeol, had no great reason for disliking cats. But Grandfell's reason was specific.
Indeed. Attire. Obsessed with even the angle of his brooch. Could he tolerate cat hair?
Unaware or uncaring of my inner turmoil, Marcelo spoke with flushed excitement.
"That said, for Grandfell to name you next Tower Master. I, of course, approve… But what sudden reason? Henceforth, we must always hear the rationale for the Tower Master's decisions."
……Good to question the reason. But at least ask the person involved first, Marcelo. Don't approve the Tower Master's unilateral decision.
'More importantly, let's hear the reason.'
Obviously. I have zero intention of taking the Tower Master's seat. Even the weight of Chief Mage—split with Marcelo—is sinking me. And Grandfell's meddling? Far from ordinary.
'Shoulder the Tower Master's burden, and I'll truly die.'
Beyond that. I wouldn't take it even to spite that cat. Absent without leave, then immediate resignation upon return. What does it think social life is?
Of course, my inner thoughts didn't show. Thanks to that, the Tower Master leisurely began.
"I realized it during the Round Table Conference. How you, Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol, stopped the Meteor Strike my body manifested."
Realized during the conference? How? Curious, I focused.
"The smartphone. Through the adventurers' magic tools."
Ah, that explained it. No wonder it wouldn't leave the player's lap.
Marcelo added.
"Ah, that. I know too. You said, Grandfell, that with it, you could summon any item to your doorstep with a flick of the finger."
Me? When? This blabbermouth!
Startled, I recalled.
'Ah, rocket delivery.'
When demanding rocket delivery to the Mage Tower. Rationalized it as a miracle and got delivery access approved.
"Indeed."
Thus, I replied shamelessly as usual. Then kept silent. One wrong word now, and I might truly get saddled with Tower Master.
'Even summoned by the boss, stay sharp and survive.'
I listened intently to the Tower Master's words.
"Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol, I'll be direct."
Fortunately. A cat's attempt at gravitas lacked intimidation. Yet the raised tail signaled utmost sincerity.
"What exactly was it? That magic."
"Pardon the interruption, but that magic?"
To Marcelo's cautious query, the Tower Master replied.
"How you reversed my body's Meteor Strike back to the sky. As if no magic had manifested. Back to its original state. Even if a miracle, there must be a foundational spell."
Its voice grew more serious.
"Embarrassingly, even I, the Tower Master, couldn't discern your magic. Yes, that's precisely why I step down. Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol, your magical prowess clearly surpasses mine by leaps."
……Wait, that's the reason?
Definitely trying to dump it on me. I glanced at Marcelo, hoping he'd back me up.
But why that expression, Chief Mage Marcelo?
"Reversal Magic."
"Oh? You knew of Reversal Magic, Marcelo?"
"Yes. I had my doubts too."
Please don't engage the Tower Master so earnestly, Marcelo.
I acknowledged what was true. But misunderstandings needed correcting.
'If a miracle, maybe. But…'
Reversal Magic wasn't that grand. Search → Interfere → Manifest. Simply reverse-manifesting the structure.
That was Reversal Magic.
"……Pardon?"
Marcelo blinked blankly.
'The death curse lifted, perhaps.'
Lately, seeing varied expressions from him… Hard to grasp? I explained again, kindly adding an analogy.
"Search the manifested magic. Like untying knots step by step. Reverse the interference process and manifest—that's Reversal Magic."
Clear, even to me. Yes, untying knots—that was the effort in Reversal Magic.
Of course, interfering with others' magic wasn't easy for me either. Especially Meteor Strike—without circles, I couldn't have attempted it.
Yet, my kind explanation fell flat. The Tower Master scoffed.
"Is that truly all, Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol?"
"Yes."
Yes, it is. What, expecting something grand? So drop the Reversal Magic excuse and quit shoving the Tower Master seat my way.
"Hahaha. You truly…"
If only the Tower Master scoffed, I'd ignore it. But Marcelo laughed too. Unease crept in.
'…Did I misspeak?'
No way. Just stated facts!
Head held high as always, the Tower Master said.
"I see. Now I understand. To you, the interference process of Meteor Strike appeared as a simple knot. Thus, you could reverse-manifest it."
"Yes."
Finally getting through, I thought… But the mood wasn't right. Even I noticed.
……Was untying that knot truly monumental?
The Tower Master and Marcelo—top magical talents in the Mage Tower. I assumed it natural. Because I did it casually!
But I'd gravely misunderstood.
"Do you know, Grandfell? We ordinary folk struggle even with standard interference. What you call a 'knot' is an incomprehensibly complex puzzle to us."
The Tower Master chimed in.
"And not only grasping that interference in reverse, but manifesting it? Truly radiant talent, Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol."
Evidently, Reversal Magic was beyond a freebie—far grander!
Anyway.
"My thanks."
Don't get cocky in this atmosphere, Grandfell. What if it really dumps the seat on me? You'd excel, turning hype to reality. But I'd suffer.
"As a mage before Tower Master, it's insurmountable."
The Tower Master continued meaningfully.
"I concur, Grandfell."
Marcelo added weight.
"Thus, as Tower Master, I formally nominate you."
……No, wait. Praise, yet I can't rejoice. The Tower Master's tail swished. And my vision flickered.
[Quest title]
📍 Location: [Place]
🎁 Reward: [Reward]
Hey, who's shoving a quest in without permission?!