Novel Will Be Taken Down on 17 May or Earlier Chapter 82 - Is it finally moving (1)

Apprentice mage.

 

Before a mage set foot into the tower.

 

Various modifiers followed them.

 

Unspent genius.

 

Magic prodigy.

 

The pride of the family.

 

They were proud of themselves.

 

But after entering the Mage Tower.

 

From the moment they realize that the knowledge they acquired so far was only a drop of water in the sea.

 

Let alone forgetting their modifier, they felt ashamed.

 

That was just how it was for the newbies in the Mage Tower.

 

“…Hey. Isn’t something strange?”

 

It was obvious what those chicks were doing.

 

They were snooping and chirping around.

 

However.

 

“Right? I’m not the only one who feels it, right?!”

 

Today, the sound of the chirping in the floating garden was exceptionally stealthy.

 

Perhaps someone was listening.

 

They talked with their voice down.

 

The subject of the conversation was, of course.

 

“That’s not a common picture, is it?”

 

The senior mages.

 

Senior mage.

 

It was a position where you had to be proud of the magic you chose in order to climb up.

 

Naturally, all 20 senior mages harbored the idea that the magic of their choice was the best.

 

They couldn’t get along with each other.

 

“Usually, they wouldn’t even say hello to each other…”

 

Besides, wasn’t this the regular conference period?

 

This was the time when senior mages became the most sensitive.

 

It was the period of regular conference in which the honor of the school was at stake.

 

So, the sight of the floating garden now was very unfamiliar to the chicks of the Mage Tower.

 

“…Why are they all gathered like that?”

 

“They even have a face-to-face talk with each other!”

 

“Hey, there’s Senior Mage Banglet Tom over there too.”

 

Indeed.

 

Banglet Tom, who was missing.

 

All twenty senior mages, including him, were gathered at one table.

 

It was a sight that was not often seen even in Crystal Hall.

 

Even more in this social place, the floating garden.

 

Not only that.

 

“They’re not just talking.”

 

Meals were served on the table.

 

The senior mages were having a banquet.

 

It was a sight that didn’t make sense.

 

The chicks began to roll their brains in their own way.

 

“…Wouldn’t you hear something if you sat close to them?”

 

“Are you crazy, Richelle? Don’t you have eyes? Don’t you see that skilled mages don’t stick around in the floating garden? It’s not normal!”

 

“Of course, it’s not normal. Senior Banglet Tom is back. But honestly, you’re curious, right? What the hell happened? They’ve gotten along so well that they can sit face to face and eat…”

 

…No, but.

 

Could you see that as getting along?

 

The expressions of the senior mages didn’t look good.

 

“They all look so tired.”

 

“As if they were harassed by someone…”

 

“Hey, who are these people getting harassed by?”

 

But technically, not all of them.

 

Among them, some were the same as usual.

 

Yes, there was one constant.

 

An existence that could make great senior mages suffer.

 

While having a status equal to that of the chief mage.

 

It was Hoyeol, the chief co-researcher.

 

The way he handled his fork and knife was as exemplary as ever.

 

From the upright waist to the angle of the arms and neck.

 

Hoyeol looked as though he was the personification of the word formality itself.

 

“…Doesn’t he look like the only one eating well?”

 

Unlike the senior mages who didn’t feel hungry at all.

 

Hoyeol was casually eating.

 

At that sight, speculations naturally poured out.

 

“Didn’t everyone hear what he had said? Well, you saw it at the regular conference. There wasn’t a single presentation that he just let go, was there? He pointed out all their mistakes.”

 

“They’re talking about that in the floating garden? While eating?”

 

“Oh, dear. No matter how strict they are, they won’t do such a thing.”

 

“That’s right. They’re eating, so talking about work is really crossing the line!”

 

But that’s why the chicks were called chicks.

 

The things that they knew.

 

It was at the level where they couldn’t see anything even if they looked.

 

It was natural not to know what happened.

 

This time, that story.

 

It simply wasn’t a story meant for the new chicks, the apprentice mages.

 

“…I don’t know what to say. Seriously.”

 

“I’m glad I found out now.”

 

“It was something that had to be fixed at any time. I can’t help but think that this is the right time.”

 

Just a few hours ago.

 

What happened on the top floor of the Mage Tower?

 

Only the elder mages and two chiefs.

 

And twenty senior mages knew.

 

It was Mage Tower’s ‘internal matter’.

 

The five elder mages.

 

Three of them, the majority, were demon worshippers.

 

Since when did they worship the demon…?

 

Was it okay really to chew meat right now?

 

The senior mages’ facial expressions look as if they were chewing something else.

 

Their heads were confused, what did it matter what went down their throats?

 

The reason why they gathered in the floating garden was simple.

 

“Skipping breakfast is a bad habit.”

 

It was only because Hoyeol said so.

 

In silence, where no one spoke easily.

 

The senior mages looked at Hoyeol.

 

…You really don’t care?

 

Hoyeol was an adventurer.

 

He was an outsider until recently.

 

However, the status of the Mage Tower was well-known even among adventurers.

 

For the Mage Tower to be played by demon worshippers.

 

He should have been shocked like they were.

 

But Hoyeol was cutting meat calmly.

 

Not only that, at the top floor of the Mage Tower.

 

The attitude he showed when he faced the elder mages.

 

What kind of existence were the elder mages?

 

They were demigods who could shake the heavens and earth with magic.

 

As fellow mages, just by facing them, they couldn’t help but feel weighed down by the magic they radiated.

 

In other words, it was inevitable that they would feel overwhelmed.

 

But Hoyeol was different from them.

 

Let alone feeling overwhelmed.

 

He even talked to the elder mages.

 

‘Foolish worshiper….’

 

Using thorny words, at that.

 

Because they had witnessed that firsthand.

 

Naturally, their evaluation of Hoyeol changed dramatically.

 

Yeah, if it wasn’t for Hoyeol.

 

Maybe they couldn’t have retrieved Banglet Tom, and they might not have made up their mind despite feeling suspicious. Just thinking of the worst was terrible.

 

If so, the Mage Tower would still be played by the deceit of the demon worshipers.

 

Indeed.

 

Whether he was aware of it or not.

 

Everyone in the Mage Tower was greatly indebted to Hoyeol.

 

That’s why they couldn’t refuse Hoyeol’s suggestion to eat.

 

In just one day.

 

Hoyeol showed great success in the Mage Tower.

 

There was no change in his attitude.

 

He looked surprisingly normal.

 

To the point that keeping an eye on him was meaningless.

 

Yeah, he was the same as usual.

 

Being extremely sensitive to manners and formality.

 

Hoyeol looked at the table and said.

 

“Sometimes there are things more important than appetite.”

 

“…!!!”

 

What was more important than appetite?

 

The number of people gathered was 20.

 

The answer to that was obviously different for each person.

 

‘Ah, is it against table manners?’

 

‘I held this fork and knife in reverse…!’

 

‘…Is it just me who ordered a different menu?!’

 

But that behavior was the same for everyone.

 

It wasn’t until Hoyeol dropped those words.

 

That forks and knives started to move in earnest.

 

Only then did the proper meal begin.

 

*

 

Yeah, you should eat it even if you don’t have an appetite.

 

My schedule would get busy from today.

 

People moved with their stomachs.

 

Of course, I would be the busiest person.

 

What can I do.

 

This was my fate.

 

My life had no breeze.

 

The top floor of the Mage Tower.

 

To begin with, no battles happened there.

 

The elder mages.

 

No, I guess we should call them the demon worshipers now.

 

They put their tails down.

 

They must have known that it wasn’t worth their lives.

 

I realized there.

 

If you want to die, you live, and if you want to live, you die…!

 

Rather, this development was possible thanks to the preparation for the all-out war.

 

As a result, the quest was successful.

 

[Quest: The Truth of the Mage Tower]

 

There is a contradiction in the Mage Tower.

 

Uncover the contradiction.

 

Straighten up the Mage Tower and the truth.

 

– Secure Banglet Tom, who is entangled with the heads of the Mage Tower. (Succesful)

 

– Find the demon worshipers among the elder mages. (Succesful)

 

[You’ve met the conditions.]

 

[Your relationship with the Mage Tower has increased significantly.]

 

[Your influence in the Mage Tower has increased.]

 

The quest that I wasn’t meant to succeed in.

 

I succeeded triumphantly…!

 

The rewards from that were quite big.

 

My relationship with the Mage Tower and my influence in it had increased significantly.

 

Hadn’t I ripped off a lot from the Mage Tower just now?

 

Valuable magic books.

 

Magic tools and items approved for rental.

 

And the free meal I just had.

 

‘I don’t know how much is left until maximum.’

 

One thing I could be sure of.

 

The increase in the relationship with the Mage Tower and influence were much better than most rewards. Of course, the quest was not over yet.

 

To match the scale of the Mage Tower.

 

The quest was also a quest chain.

 

As expected, a quest chain was never easy.

 

[Quest: Reconstruction of the Mage Tower]

 

The true nature of the contradiction that existed in the Mage Tower.

 

Now even the purpose of the Mage Tower, the pursuit of truth, has become impure.

 

Set the Mage Tower straight from its foundation.

 

– Encounter with the Tower Master. (In progress)

 

– Dispose of the runaway demon worshiper. (In progress)

 

– Find the true truth. (In progress)

 

Indeed, the Mage Tower.

 

It was clear that I would roll as much as I received.

 

The quest goals were pouring from the beginning. Pouring so much.

 

Above all, the quest goals didn’t seem easy.

 

First of all, even just the Tower Master alone.

 

Even at first glance on the top floor.

 

He didn’t seem to be in good condition.

 

And what about the goal of disposing of the runaway demon worshiper?

 

It was asking me to find the elder mage and settle it.

 

The finishing touch was the pursuit of truth, the ultimate goal of the Mage Tower.

 

Looking at those goals…

 

I really felt like I was part of the Mage Tower.

 

The relationship and influence had risen significantly.

 

I even got this quest.

 

Well, anyway. As you could see from those grand goals.

 

It wasn’t a quest I could solve right away.

 

In the first place, the name of the quest was [Reconstruction of the Magic Tower].

 

I didn’t know when or where this tower was designed incorrectly. It was only natural that it wouldn’t be easy. But everything started with one step.

 

Tap tap–

 

So I stepped out.

 

To the underground of the Mage Tower.

 

*

There was an underground space in the Mage Tower.

 

The role of that underground space was merely to support the Mage Tower.

 

Mage Tower had many spaces that couldn’t be understood in common sense.

 

Its structure couldn’t be scientifically explained.

 

From the outside, Mage Tower was neither very tall nor vast.

 

On the inside, Mage Tower had countless floors, and each floor had a vast space.

 

Such was the Mage Tower.

 

To support the Mage Tower, of course, a solid base was needed.

 

A base that could always maintain its stability, unshakable regardless of any magical powers for eternity.

 

Yes, the underground of the Mage Tower was a space that always dominated.

 

Its exact name was Mugan ^[1] Mugan/무간(無間) = infinite/endless. .

 

True to its name, it was a hellish space.

 

There were people who fell into such an infinite hell.

 

Demon worshipers, who were called elder mages until just a day ago.

 

They were the worst sinners in the history of the Mage Tower.

 

‘What a shitty space.’

 

Elder mages had reached the ‘limit’ of magic.

 

However, their magic powers were useless in Mugan.

 

The same was true for their aloof and confident mental strength.

 

‘How long has it been? A week? A month?’

 

All their senses, including their sense of time, had long been out of order.

 

But they didn’t give up.

 

Yes, because they weren’t the only ones overwhelmed.

 

“Marcelo. Since when have you noticed?”

 

Knowing that fact, they desperately spoke.

 

They coaxed that little boy, Marcelo.

 

If only they could get out of this iron bar.

 

They might be able to get out of this damn Mugan.

 

‘If only I could escape…’

 

They would be able to repay this disgrace twice, or even more.

 

Deceiving the other person with words?

 

Nothing was easier than that.

 

Even the Mage Tower had been deceived by their tongues.

 

In addition, they had no choice but to speak.

 

‘We’ll have to find that one.’

 

To find and condemn the one who escaped.

 

That would be the Mage Tower’s top priority at this point.

 

So they had hope.

 

‘…As long as I don’t lose my sense, I’ll live.’

 

Of course, that hope didn’t last long.

 

“You’re here?”

 

Marcelo, who had been silent, opened his mouth.

 

Lee Hoyeol was where his greeting headed.

 

An adventurer and Marcelo’s chosen co-researcher.

 

The moment they met his face, they felt a sense of alienation.

 

‘…What is it?’

 

There was no sign of tension in him.

 

This place was Mugan.

 

It was difficult for those who set foot for the first time to stay sane.

 

In other words, it had always been a space where time seemed to have stopped.

 

But how could he be fine?

 

‘…I have to trick him to escape from here?’

 

Was that really possible?

 

Was it an illusion created by their broken senses?

 

If not, was it really real?

 

‘Impossible…!’

 

Drip–

 

They felt a cold sweat run down their spine.

 

*

 

Mugan.

 

That space.

 

The moment I heard Marcelo’s explanation about it, I thought.

 

『The first thing Grandfel learned as the next head of the family was to be indifferent about trivial matters.

 

The position of head of the Claudie family was a position where even the slightest agitation was not tolerated.』

 

This would be like a fish met water.

 

The prediction was correct.

 

I felt very comfortable in Mugan.

 

It wasn’t just my imagination.

 

Even Marcelo looked clearly tired.

 

Of course, not to mention the demon worshipers.

 

‘Their initial momentum is nowhere to be found.’

 

By the way.

 

They didn’t even know what kind of expression they were making.

 

Well, based on the state of things…

 

-Dispose of the escaped demon worshipers. (In progress)

 

Maybe I could finish it sooner than I expected?

 

It seemed I might be able to find out more information than just simply finding out the whereabouts of the runaway demon worshiper. As well as information about demons.

 

‘No matter what, they were in the position of elder mages.’

 

Wouldn’t they also know advanced information about the Arcana continent?

 

Of course, there was no rush.

 

Because this Mugan was on my side.

 

It was literally my home ground.

 

So I said as always.

 

There was no need to intimidate them.

 

The constant attitude was ever-present.

 

“Let’s begin the interrogation.”

 

In that sense, I said it kindly.

 

…Somehow, their faces look more tearful?

 

I didn’t know why.

 

Not being biased towards personal feelings such as compassion.

 

That, too, was just the same as always.

• 1. Mugan/무간(無間) = infinite/endless.