Mage Tower (3)
Clink— The sound of the teacup tilting echoed through the laboratory. Marcelo savored his tea before letting out a soft sigh.
“Indeed, I can see why you favor it.”
It was hardly proper hospitality—just a single green tea teabag steeped in hot water. His attitude made me feel oddly embarrassed instead. But of course, I didn’t show a hint of it and shot back.
“True value lies not in price or rarity.”
A 200-won green tea teabag, and he’s ascribing all that meaning to it…! At this point, even staying silent as a listener is a problem. Especially me, broadcasting my dark history in real time like this.
“Profound words, full of much to ponder.”
What am I supposed to do when he chimes in like that? Of course, Marcelo hadn’t come to me just to nod along to my nonsense. I grasped his intent through the blinking quest window.
─Accept Marcelo's proposal. (Success)
─Prove your ability. (Success)
─The Weight of the Chief. (Repeat) ▼
─Approach to the Strange. (In Progress)
The newly generated quest objective. Strange—as in the strangeness of something bizarre, I suppose.
I knew it but didn’t speak first. Marcelo set down his teacup and broached the subject.
“As you’ve likely surmised, the Mage Tower has unavoidable circumstances.”
……What? Straight to the point like that?
I knew Marcelo’s personality well, but really—no brakes on this guy.
“Regrettably, however, I cannot disclose those circumstances yet. I’m merely speculating on them myself. In short, they haven’t been verified.”
Marcelo gave a wry smile. His gaunt, fleshless face showed little emotion usually, which made the complex feelings in that smile all the more palpable.
Clink— I leisurely tilted my teacup.
“I understand your position.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
“But what is the real matter at hand?”
“……You’ve already discerned it. Truly, nothing escapes you.”
It was the quest window that figured it out, not me—but whatever. That wasn’t the point. I focused on Marcelo’s continuing words.
To sum up the core: “The fusion of magic and science—two entirely different concepts. I’ve termed this advanced magic ‘Strange’.”
[Strange]
So that’s what Strange meant. Then the new quest objective made sense too.
“New concepts require verification, of course.”
I had Grandfell’s magical talent. Plus, me—Lee Hoyeol’s scientific knowledge. Accepting those two concepts was easy for me, so wielding the Strange posed no great difficulty.
But not for other mages. Even Chief Marcelo was struggling with it.
‘They need to build from the basics.’
A process I didn’t need. But there was the quest. Progressing it might reveal the Mage Tower’s “unavoidable circumstances.”
“Where might my aid be required?”
Marcelo replied politely to my question. “I apologize for continually imposing on you.”
His next words made me flinch.
“I’d like you to investigate a rift.”
……A rift? The kind I know—where monsters pour out?
But what did Strange have to do with rifts?
In that moment of flinching—
“……!”
Something flashed in my mind.
‘……No, rifts are Strange too.’
Strange: the perfect fusion of two disparate concepts. A rift: the perfect blend of two worlds. Reality and Arcana intertwined.
I recalled the rift’s landscape. A subway station fused halfway with a goblin habitat.
Yes, that scenery had been utterly Strange.
I spoke at once. “I understand your intent, Marcelo.”
“Rifts are where two worlds…… Yes? Y-you understand?”
And with that, the quest objective updated.
─Approach to the Strange. (In Progress) ▼
● Conquer the rift. (Repeat)
“I don’t expect immediate revelations. But even a little information on rifts could advance our exploration of the Strange immensely.”
The quest tightened my once-slack resolve. To avoid sinking, I’d need full preparation. Warm-ups were essential. For diligent flailing too, of course.
But that alone might not suffice. My class: demon hunter. Without Natural Enemy, I’d be a lunatic or a loose screw.
That’s why I resolved to prepare fully. Why struggle bare-handed if I didn’t have to?
‘Potions, elixirs, item buffs, and such……’
Whatever I could use, I’d exploit to the max. That was my way.
Marcelo said to me then, “I cannot accompany you, but conquering the rift is part of the research. Nay, it’s the first step toward truth itself. Request anything you need from the Mage Tower.”
……‘Anything,’ huh. Now I was curious. What did he think I’d request?
‘Show me “anything” for real?’
Should I make him rip out a pillar roots and all? Teach him words can’t be easily retracted?
I pondered, then dropped it. Damn integrity. With Grandfell glaring fiercely, I couldn’t indulge in needless greed.
But preparation wasn’t greed. I’d take the Mage Tower’s support to the limit.
Clink— I set aside my worries and raised my teacup to Marcelo.
“Then, one more sip.”
“The aroma is exquisite. What is this tea called?”
“Green tea.”
“Green tea……”
“Regrettably, I have none to share with you.”
“Ah, I hadn’t expected……”
“But now with rocket delivery, no issue.”
“……Rocket delivery?”
“Just green tea or brown rice green tea. Which do you prefer?”
“……What’s the difference between them?”
*
Approaching the Strange. The rift conquest as its foundation. The first step in preparation: know thyself.
‘Know yourself and your enemy.’
Grand words, but really, just checking my inventory.
Demon King Decarabia. The three items sacrificed in his exorcism ritual:
[Possessed Master Sword]
[Lady’s Jewel Box]
[Strangling Necktie]
Those demonic items had been purified upon Decarabia’s defeat. I appraised them with my Aesthetics.
“Not bad.”
Of course—they were ones I’d handpicked at the auction house. Picky as ever.
Most importantly, I’d eyed the level restrictions.
‘Plenty of funds mean nothing if you can’t use them properly.’
I checked the sword first.
◈ Restriction: Lv.280
◈ Effect: High chance to inflict 'Bleeding' status on attack.
◈ Description: The blacksmith's final work. It regained its true worth only after its obsessive attachment faded.
……No great expectations, but surprisingly good.
Abilities I’d never have dreamed of on the [Possessed Master Sword]. A unique-grade longsword, no less. Even ignoring effects, the base performance……
I’d made several times my purchase price. ‘Finally ditching the training sword.’
Swordsmanship practice. I’d kept the [Lion Heart Knights - Training Longsword] from that. Now with far superior gear, I could shed my newbie look.
Satisfied, I checked the jewel box.
◈ Restriction: None
◈ Effect: Grants 'Warmth' buff to stored accessories for a duration.
◈ Description: A jewel box passed down through a noble family. A mother's love for her daughter has been handed down through generations.
Wait, unique grade too? I couldn’t help but flinch. Did I have an eye for this?
‘A buff for accessories.’
Quite the unique item. Warmth buff—nothing came to mind just looking at it. Well, effects would reveal themselves in time.
Finally, the necktie.
◈ Restriction: Lv.250
◈ Effect: Slight increase to mana regeneration / Slight increase to Aesthetics stat when equipped.
◈ Description: Duke Swallin's necktie. It once bore a curse befitting its tangled history, but now purified, it holds value worthy of a museum.
Not just unique—luxury?! Now I was certain. I had innate talent at auctions too.
‘Precisely Grandfell’s talent, not mine.’
Aesthetics must have pierced the curses to appraise their true worth. With this alone, I’d never starve.
‘Several times over? Try dozens.’
Profits dozens of times the purchase price. But no emotional stir. Such trifles couldn’t shake Grandfell’s vast vessel.
I equipped the necktie casually. The “luxury” label suited it.
‘Below masterpieces, but still.’
Luxury items earned recognition by name alone. Simple effects, but desperately needed ones.
‘Slight mana regeneration increase.’
Slight, so modest—but more versatile than the brooch. [Effect: Recover 10% mana spent on spells.]
Constant regeneration without conditions? In combat or rest, mana restored.
Likewise slight: Aesthetics still lingered at [Low] grade……
‘Good.’
For a first auction buy, excellent results. Nor did I forget the [Sublime Necklace of Promise] from the Count Ascura rift. A Lv.300 restriction item. I’d wondered if I could equip it, but only 5 levels shy now.
I checked my reflection.
‘Suit, handkerchief, necktie……’
Even more formal than before. Add silver hair—should feel alien. Yet somehow……
I didn’t find the mirror’s me unfamiliar at all. Staring at the mirror, I murmured.
“This is me as well.”
Grandfell, my past and dark history. This dissonant feeling too—a part of overcoming that history. Knowing that, I didn’t hesitate.
I portaled straight to Yusra Kingdom. To conquer the new rift there.
“Whoever you are, your confidence is remarkable.”
Not knowing whose land…… no, whose authority this falls under.
. . .
A rift appeared in Yusra Kingdom. No special significance. Just another from the new update batch.
Nam Taemin relayed the info.
“Simply more rifts overall. One happened near Yusra. And this is just between me and my brother……”
I glanced at the whispering Nam Taemin.
……You sure it’s okay sharing that with me?
Of course, I was grateful. Who was Nam Taemin? Korea’s strongest player, world rank 11, Gaon’s guild master. His intel and rumors? Beyond my reach otherwise.
“Intriguing.”
And here I was, accepting his favor as due.
Nam Taemin continued at my response. “The moment Inazuma cut ties with the Japanese government! Effectively, Japan lost any claim or reason over Frost.”
Among premium intel, Frost mattered especially. I held authority there.
I’d held back till Frost’s residents adjusted. But now, time to act.
‘Can’t watch that mess forever.’
Post-Decarabia subjugation, Japan’s government had been relentless. Claiming rights over Frost for overlapping their territory, citing every excuse.
So it was surprising. “Hisagi Kazuma. No reason he’d do that.”
Inazuma turning from Japan’s government. Even Nam Taemin seemed puzzled.
‘Not my concern, though.’
……I’d thought that moments ago. But then—
“We greet you, Lee Hoyeol!”
Hisagi Kazuma included, the entire Inazuma guild awaited me. Lined neatly before the Golden Palace.
In that instant, I pondered. Why seek me, Yusra?
Nam Taemin’s info gave a guess. But—
“Regrettably.”
When in Rome. “I do not entertain unscheduled meetings.”
“……!!!”
No matter who. No matter the circumstances. Propriety and procedure first.