Infiltration
Bruno smiled faintly as he spoke.
“Would you do that for me? Thank you so much. I believe you can pull it off, because it’s you. Especially since you’re with such good friends, you’ll surely do well.”
Then, beaming, he looked over each team member one by one before speaking to me as if whispering.
“I’m serious. I’m truly grateful you’ve grown so wonderfully. Seeing you take responsibility for the path, I realized you have become a mage capable of bearing the responsibility of humanity. Udin, you have now become an Archmage who will save the world.”
“Salvation? That’s too grand a word. I don’t know about salvation, but I will definitely stop Samir.”
“Very well. See to it, then.”
Bruno raised his head and spoke to the team members.
“All of you are truly incredible and perfect as well. You are all like the light and salt of this world. Please do your best to ensure that Earth does not degenerate into a playground for dark mages.”
“Yes! We will. We have to stop the dark mages’ rampage.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll help the Mage protect Earth and finish off Samir so that Archmage Bruno can return.”
“I will definitely lend my strength as well.”
Gil, Cheon Danbi, and Ren all answered with hearts as pure as children’s. Everyone’s faces shone with a sparkling light.
But perhaps that light alone was not enough.
Even though everyone’s abilities had already improved through training in the magic space, it seemed even that was not enough.
Bruno sought to give us everything he could.
“Thank you. From far away, all I can give you is the sacred light. But that, at least, I will give without reserve. Your respective abilities will grow even mightier.”
Then, in an instant, brilliant white light filled the magic space.
It was a radiant, blindingly bright light, and one that contained warm and abundant magical power and energy.
The light filled our hearts and made them beat powerfully.
Without even a moment to react, everyone surrendered their bodies to the waves of white light.
Then Bruno’s voice echoed once more.
“I must be going now. In the meantime, years have passed in this dimension. I must look after the continent where I reside as well. Otherwise, the subterranean races who love to fight will soon cause trouble again.”
A brief laugh seemed to trail from the end of his words before silence soon fell.
We couldn’t even say goodbye. We were all surrounded by light, unable to move.
Nothing could be seen, and no more sound reached us.
Finally, the white light gradually faded, and the familiar sight of the field returned.
“Ah……! He’s gone.”
“He gave us an incredible gift before leaving.”
“We just parted, but I already miss him terribly.”
I quietly closed and opened my eyes.
Although he had come only as a projection, unable to bring his physical body, it was deeply regrettable that Bruno, who had been so vividly before my eyes, had vanished without a trace.
There were more things I had wanted to ask Bruno, but I hadn’t been able to.
I had wanted to ask about the old items in the magic space, and about the memories of my previous life, but there had been no opportunity.
Perhaps Bruno also had stories he couldn’t tell me.
But thinking that this wasn’t an eternal farewell brought some comfort.
The day would surely come when we could sit face-to-face and talk leisurely. No, I had to make that day come. I had to move it up.
“It’s a shame, but I’m sure he can visit again sometime. To the magic space, I mean.”
“That’s right. And more than anything, we have to finish off Samir quickly so that Archmage Bruno can return fully.”
Cheon Danbi and Gil spoke exactly what I was feeling.
I wasn’t the only one who felt regret. The team members had met Bruno for the first time today, yet they too regretted parting.
Bruno was that kind of person. Someone who gave everyone he met a warmth like sunlight.
Moreover, he had filled the team members to the brim with sacred light.
“Let’s head outside now. We’ve spent enough time in the magic space, right?”
I spoke to the team members.
“Yes. Let’s get out. It’s so comfortable and pleasant here, but we have to return to reality.”
“I want to go outside and test the enhanced abilities I gained here.”
“Let’s go. I’m curious what might have happened in the outside world.”
The team members all agreed.
We crossed the field, returned to the garden, and entered the mansion. Then we passed through the portal in the mansion’s living room and returned to the real world.
* * *
The next morning, the Magic Tower Investigation Team gathered again in the Administration Bureau’s meeting room.
There was no time to lose, so they decided to begin the Magic Tower investigation today.
“Is everyone in good condition?”
I asked, looking around at the mages.
“Fine.”
“Good. As the Mage instructed, we ate well and rested plenty yesterday.”
“Awesome. My heart is pounding at the thought of finally entering the Magic Tower today.”
“My detection gear is also in top condition!”
The answers grew more enthusiastic from Han Do-su through Heimdall to Thor, until finally Yantu even gave a thumbs-up, declaring that his detection gear was in top condition too.
Even those who didn’t speak up were smiling or giving a thumbs-up. Everyone looked lively and spirited, which was a good sight to see.
They were about to personally infiltrate the Magic Tower; it was no ordinary matter. Peak condition was essential.
“Very well. Then let’s do our best to achieve meaningful results today. Shall we depart at once?”
“Wait. Let me give a quick briefing before we leave.”
Yoo Jae-seon stepped forward.
“Fortunately, there were no new terror incidents overnight. And there was no movement from the Magic Tower’s side either. It’s quiet.”
Hearing that, everyone felt relieved but also puzzled.
“Then where on earth did Samir go?”
“He hasn’t completely fled, right? Like escaping to another country.”
“I don’t think so. He’s probably preparing for the next terror attack.”
“Anyway, let’s make full use of this opportunity. We have to finish the investigation quickly while things are in a lull and strike.”
“That’s right.”
Once the talk about Samir passed without any special information, Yoo Jae-seon resumed speaking.
“The Vanaheim side is suspicious. Chairman Kim Seon-ho has vanished. The warrant finally came through yesterday, but when agents went to arrest him, he had already disappeared.”
“He knew they were coming to arrest him?”
“Most likely. Their legal team has been keeping a close watch on the Administration Bureau’s movements.”
“Anyway, the fact that he ran in advance means they intend to go illegal from now on.”
“That’s right. We’ve almost finished preparing to legally block the Golden Apple’s release, but if they release it illegally, the situation will escalate. Not only that, but public reaction is also a problem. In just one day, the number of people criticizing the Administration Bureau while looking forward to the Golden Apple’s release has increased tremendously.”
As expected, the Golden Apple issue was not being resolved easily.
Moreover, if Vanaheim decided to cross the line, it would be an even bigger problem.
“Anyway, we’re also running a public opinion campaign about the Golden Apple’s problems, right?”
“Yes. Of course we are. But it’s not easy. Who would dislike something that enhances vitality? And no one has seen any side effects firsthand yet.”
“It’s a headache. But if Vanaheim crosses the line, negative public opinion might actually grow. Until now, many people have trusted the Vanaheim name value, but once they start committing illegal acts, they become a bad company.”
Thor pointed out an unexpected angle.
It was a plausible argument.
“It would be fortunate if that happened, but when it comes to life and health, people will even believe swindlers or quacks.”
Yantu countered.
That was also true.
More than anyone, I knew all too well that when the topic of eternal life arose, many people lost all reason.
“Anyway, that’s the situation so far. Vanaheim hasn’t caused any immediate incidents either, so let’s focus on today’s mission.”
Yoo Jae-seon wrapped up the briefing.
“Then shall we head to the Magic Tower?”
The investigation team, having concluded the brief meeting, departed immediately for the Magic Tower.
Of those who had attended the meeting, only Director Park Hong-guk was excluded; everyone else headed to the field.
Our plan for today was as follows.
First, we would visualize the Magic Tower using staining magic. However, ordinary civilians outside would be unable to see it; only the investigation team’s mages could, through intricate magic.
Next, I would dismantle a portion of the spatial magic applied to the entire Magic Tower to create a path for us to enter.
This was the most difficult part, but I had already mapped out the circuit virtually and was confident.
Afterward, the investigation team would don concealment magic and infiltrate the Magic Tower to investigate its interior.
The infiltration was the part that required the most caution. Since enemies were inside, it was impossible to know what situation might arise. However, they intended to avoid combat as much as possible.
Today’s objective was reconnaissance. The goal was to thoroughly investigate the Magic Tower’s interior as far as possible and draw up a map for the subsequent battle.
As everyone traveled to the scene together in a van, an alarm suddenly blared loudly.
Communication devices from the Administration Bureau and the Hall were sending alerts simultaneously.
Everyone had been quietly envisioning today’s mission when they jumped at the loud noise.
“What is it?”
“Did a terror attack happen already?”
As the mages checked their own communication devices without a word, Yantu—who had been excluded from the communication network—asked anxiously.
“What is it? Is it a terror attack? What’s going on?”
Since Yantu looked like he was dying of curiosity, I answered.
“So Kim Seon-ho disappeared, but he didn’t go far.”
“What? Kim Seon-ho appeared again? Was he caught?”
“No. He’s causing a scene in the air. He’s flying around in an airship sprinkling Golden Apple samples.”
“Good grief, he’s really doing every crazy thing under the sun.”
Yantu shook his head as if disgusted.
The reason no one showed an immediate reaction was that the news was truly absurd beyond imagination.
It wasn’t even a helicopter; it was an airship.
Who the hell even owns something like that?
He was truly pulling off something only an eccentric big-corporation chairman could do.
“How do we respond to this? Should we deploy the Air Force?”
“We can’t use the Air Force. We can’t shoot down an airship just because it’s scattering free samples. Mages have to go and subdue it.”
“It won’t be easy, will it?”
But it wasn’t a difficult task either. Not if I went there.
But after weighing my thoughts for a moment, I said,
“Let’s focus on the Magic Tower. Send the Hall mages to the airship. If several of them cast magic together, they should be able to subdue it.”
Before long, the van entered the Samsung Station intersection.
The Magic Tower was right there. Today, we would infiltrate that place.
Our target was the Magic Tower.