Episode 25. Parachute
『For Granfell, the emotion called humility did not exist. Underestimation demanded proof. Overestimation, he would inevitably turn into reality.』
That was his unchanging nature.
Because I knew that fact,
I added items to the parchment without hesitation.
──────
1. Magic tools related to mana regeneration
2. Books related to beginner magic
3. Books related to intermediate magic…….
──────
Shamelessly.
Did I not feel sorry for demanding so much?
Unfortunately, I did not.
As I said, I would absolutely repay this excessive treatment.
Which meant that, in the end, I was the one who would suffer.
Well, let’s just think of it as an advance payment.
I handed Marcelo the parchment filled with my requests.
“I will prepare them immediately.”
……
Really? That’s all?
Even though I had steeled myself to be that shameless,
seeing Marcelo’s unconcerned reaction finally put me at ease.
He thanked me once more.
“Thank you for your cooperation, Adventurer Lee Hoyeol.”
Then he added honestly,
“However, as things stand, I am not in a position to carry out proper research. As you pointed out, there are unnecessary elements in my investigative process.”
Marcelo gave a bitter smile.
Maybe it was because his face had not a shred of flesh on it.
When he wore such a pitiful expression, sympathy began to sprout in me.
Of course, even so, there was nothing I could do to help.
‘How am I supposed to explain something I can just see?’
Inborn talent.
This was not something you could achieve with effooort.
Of course, I was not so lacking in character that I would say that out loud.
“Then I shall wait. Until you overcome the discrepancy.”
The words sounded grandiose.
But in reality, they were simple.
Until the next quest appeared.
It simply meant I would wait.
With a slightly brighter expression, Marcelo said,
“Thank you for your understanding. While the research is ongoing, you may use this laboratory and anything necessary for the research freely after making a request. Then……”
Tak—
After Marcelo left the laboratory,
I remained alone in the lab and thought.
……
No matter how I thought about it, things had worked out well!
So much so that my resentment toward my runaway mouth felt ridiculous.
I thought to myself.
‘……Could this be thanks to luck too?’
[Name: Granfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo]
[Class: Demon Hunter]
[Level: 134]
[Stats]
Strength: 27 / Agility: 33 / Magic: 84 / Luck: 3
[Available Points: 0]
A rise of 34 levels.
I had invested 33 of my available points into Magic.
And the remaining one into Luck.
‘Honestly, I wasn’t hoping for even more luck, really.’
After all, even with the class quest,
hadn’t that already been more than enough in return for investing in Luck?
But then again, that was how people’s hearts worked.
‘It’s not like I can prove this is because of Luck.’
Still, didn’t it feel as if things worked out every time I invested a point into Luck?
In any case, let’s consider it a good jinx.
Only after I sorted out my thoughts did the scenery of the laboratory enter my eyes.
‘It’s incredibly luxurious for a laboratory.’
The research desk, the bookshelves, even the feather pen.
There was not a single thing that offended the eye.
If even Granfell’s aesthetic sense could find no fault with it,
then it must have been on an extraordinary level.
‘So this is where all the players’ money went.’
In the past, the Magic Tower had viciously sucked up gold.
Now, it did not even charge a fee for using portals,
but back when Arcana was still a game, it had truly been infamous.
‘In other words.’
This was a laboratory built from the players’ blood and sweat.
I gave my impression of it.
“It is regrettable that there is no green tea.”
Right, I should have written green tea bags among my requests too…….
‘No, that’s not the point.’
I’m getting more shameless by the day, aren’t I……!
This was the Magic Tower, the Magic Tower.
One of the forces considered the greatest in Arcana.
And now, thanks to the Chief Mage of that very Magic Tower, I had secured a laboratory.
In other words, my situation was exactly that of a parachute hire.
‘This isn’t a situation where I can just be happy.’
After all, even a parachute has to meet a certain standard.
At the very least, it has to be able to function as a parachute.
Only then can it remain above the clouds for a long time without plummeting to the ground.
So what I had to do from now on was simple.
Well, it was not much different from what I had been doing until now.
If before it had been to avoid sinking,
this time it was to avoid falling.
I would have to struggle again.
In that sense, the start was not bad.
Sssss—
“!”
Suddenly, words began to engrave themselves onto the parchment on the desk.
……
So this was something like a messenger for the mages of the Magic Tower.
How mage-like.
The thought lasted only a moment before I flinched.
—The magic tool you requested has been prepared in Garnet Hall.
The magic tool I had requested was…….
‘An item related to mana regeneration.’
At minimum, hundreds of millions.
Perhaps billions, even tens of billions.
Considering the level of the Magic Tower, there might be an item even beyond that.
I had requested such an item for research purposes.
And had gained the right to borrow and use it.
Who was I, exactly?
Was it really all right to hand something like that over so readily to a parachute hire?
It would have been normal to feel burdened.
And yet I picked up the feather pen with utter confidence and scrawled,
—I shall look forward to the Magic Tower’s discerning eye.
*
The top floor of the Magic Tower.
Backlight fell from the luminous bodies embroidered across the ceiling.
Marcelo faced five shadows.
They were the elder mages of the Magic Tower.
“We respect your judgment, Chief Mage Marcelo.”
Marcelo said nothing.
He had expected the elders’ summons.
‘Because I proposed joint research to an adventurer.’
And that research was no ordinary research.
It was research that might become a clue
to resolving the current situation.
That was why
Marcelo had done something unprecedented in the history of the Magic Tower.
‘That knowledge, that talent, is absolutely necessary.’
To manifest magic immediately after merely seeing it?
That alone was remarkable.
But the magic he had manifested by imitation was no ordinary magic.
Marcelo was certain.
‘Moreover, he knows about the discrepancy.’
To be precise, he had spoken as though he had overcome that discrepancy.
It was a strange thing.
‘How did an adventurer understand the concept of magic?’
Even Marcelo himself was struggling with the concept of science.
But what was certain was that he would be of great help in this research.
The shadows added to the silent Marcelo’s words.
“However, you must take clear responsibility for that judgment.”
Responsibility?
Marcelo swallowed the sneer that was about to burst out.
‘Do you have the right to speak of responsibility?’
Fools intoxicated by ideals, turning away from reality.
Marcelo hated the elder mages.
If he could, he wanted to question them right then and there.
About the countless contradictions of this Magic Tower.
But he could not.
“You may withdraw, Chief Mage Marcelo.”
Soon, the shadows turned away.
Behind them, a massive sphere of mana came into view.
And within that sphere, the shape of a person floating inside it.
“Further commotion would be a hindrance, would it not?”
At that question, Marcelo lowered his head.
Grit—
He quietly ground his teeth.
‘How long do you intend to remain silent, Tower Master……!’
*
Garnet Hall.
A red space, as if stained by pomegranate.
There was a mage there with a robe pulled over their head.
“These are the magic tools related to mana regeneration that you requested.”
……
But why are there so many?
Still, because this was the Magic Tower,
I had been expecting something.
But this exceeded expectations from sheer quantity alone.
I examined the magic tools, the items, one by one.
[Frozen Knowledge]
[Grade: Unique]
[Restriction: Lv.550]
[Effect: When using ice-type magic, recovers 50% of the mana consumed.]
[Description: A relic of a great ice-type mage. The magical knowledge he achieved in life is preserved within the necklace, frozen intact.]
……
Wait, it was insane from the very start.
A Unique item with a level restriction of 550.
This was an item players could not even hope to see.
On top of that, its effect was no joke.
Though it was limited to ice-type magic, it returned as much as 50% of the mana consumed.
‘……The higher your level, the more ridiculous the efficiency would become.’
After all, high-ranking magic consumed an enormous amount of mana.
It really was the kind of thing where the seller named the price.
That thought occurred to me.
Of course, to me, it was pie in the sky.
‘Level 550? I’m short by more than 400 levels.’
Even in such a small detail,
I felt that I really was a parachute hire.
However, naturally, I did not reveal what I was thinking.
“Excellent.”
I said calmly and examined the next item.
……
But somehow,
[Restriction: Lv.500]
[Restriction: Lv.600]
[Restriction: Lv.450]
all the level restrictions were far too high.
I could not help but bristle.
‘Just what do they think my level is……!’
If this was overestimation, it was overestimation to an absurd degree.
I wanted to ask them to show me other magic tools.
I wanted to change my words right away.
But I had already sent that message by parchment.
‘What do you mean, I shall look forward to the Magic Tower’s discerning eye!’
Truly, there was a reason people said the mouth was the root of trouble.
Then, suddenly, one particularly small item caught my eye.
This wasn’t a necklace or a ring……
Could it be a brooch?
Perhaps noticing my interest, the mage said,
“That is an incomplete magic tool, but I prepared it just in case.”
An incomplete magic tool.
For now, let’s check it.
……
Huh?
At least, it passed the level restriction.
[Hexagram Brooch 1/6]
[Grade: Unique]
[Restriction: Lv.100]
[Effect: When using magic, recovers 10% of the mana consumed.]
[Description: Part of a brooch in which six become one. Because it is only an extremely small portion, its effect has been considerably lost.]
Was it because I had only been looking at incredible items until now?
The effect seemed bland.
But when I thought about it, that did not seem to be the case.
‘Ice-type, fire-type, they all had restrictions.’
Even if they returned 50% or 40% of consumed mana,
they came with difficult conditions attached.
But as you can see, the brooch had no conditions.
‘Besides, considering my combat style…….’
My combat style, well.
It was not as though there was anything impressive about it.
Whether it was magic or science,
I simply dragged in everything I had and did not have,
and fought desperately. That was my way.
In that sense, it could be said to suit me better than any other item placed here.
“I shall borrow this.”
Most importantly, it had also passed Granfell’s demanding aesthetic sense.
At my choice, the mage looked surprised.
“Do you not require any other magic tools?”
Even if I needed them, I couldn’t use them……!
Since I absolutely could not say that,
I answered,
“For me, this is sufficient.”
“I see! I understand your intent well.”
What was with that admiring expression?
It seemed like they had misunderstood my meaning somehow,
but I had no further business here.
Yes, what use was there in staring at a tree I could not climb right now?
In that time,
it was only right to build the strength to climb any great tree.
So it was time to struggle again.
I immediately left Garnet Hall.
My destination,
like the players visible below my feet,
was the Yusra Archipelago……
not, just an ordinary rift.
‘I have to know my place.’
Treasure Island, the Yusra Archipelago.
Even that nickname was tempting,
but its minimum appropriate level was 350.
Level 430.
If you asked why I was afraid when I had defeated Count Ascura, who was stronger than even that level,
‘There are no demons……!’
That was because demon-type monsters did not appear in the Yusra Archipelago.
The reason I had been able to perform so well in Count Ascura’s territory was largely thanks to the effect of [Natural Enemy Relationship].
There was the highly efficient 『Magic』 as well,
but even that magic would not have been something I could manifest more than a few times without enhanced mana.
‘It’s unfortunate, but there’s nothing I can do.’
Well, it was what I had resolved to do.
More than anything, I was currently laying my foundation.
And I had even gained the backing of the Magic Tower,
which was suitable for building that foundation.
‘There is no reason to rush.’
So the Yusra Archipelago was something far removed from me…….
“!”
That was when it happened.
The quiet class quest window flickered.
[Class Quest: Stirring]
The prologue has risen, and the beacon has been lit.
Last Demon Hunter.
Illuminate the world covered in evil.
—Train your weakened body. (Repeat)
—Investigate the great evil of the Yusra Archipelago. (In Progress)
……
Wait, if this is how it is, I have no choice but to change my words, do I?
I did not delay.
I immediately pinned the brooch to the lapel of my suit.
For preparing to go to the battlefield,
it was far too elegant.
However, I spoke with utmost seriousness.
“There is no training more efficient than actual combat.”