◈ Episode 66. The Magic Tower (3)
Click. The sound of a teacup being tilted echoed through the laboratory.
Marcelo savored the tea before letting out a small sigh.
"As expected, I believe I now understand why you favor it."
Even calling it hospitality, I had merely steeped a single green tea bag.
His attitude made me feel rather awkward instead.
Of course, I didn't let it show one bit and fired right back.
"True value isn't found in price or rarity."
Giving meaning to a lousy 200-won green tea bag, of all things...!
At this point, even the person sitting here listening in silence is part of the problem.
That person is me.
Here I am, radiating black history in real time.
"You speak words that warrant much consideration."
What am I supposed to do when he actually agrees with me?
Naturally, Marcelo hadn't come to nod along to my nonsense.
I grasped his intention through the flickering quest window.─Accept Marcelo's proposal. (Success)─Prove your ability. (Success)─The Weight of the Chief (Repeatable)▼─Approach to Gii (In Progress)
A newly generated quest objective.
Gii (奇異).
It was probably the gi from gii-hada.
I already knew, but I didn't speak first.
Then Marcelo, having set down his teacup, broached the subject.
"As you surmise, the Magic Tower has circumstances it cannot avoid."……
What?
He brings that up right away?
I knew Marcelo's personality well, but.
Really, the man has no brakes.
"However, I am sorry. For now, I cannot speak of those circumstances. It is because even I am merely speculating on them alone. In short, they have not been verified."
Marcelo smiled bitterly.
A gaunt face utterly devoid of flesh.
And perhaps because he seldom showed emotion on that face.
I felt complex sentiments in that bitter smile.
Click. I leisurely tilted my own teacup.
"I understand that feeling."
"Thank you for your understanding."
"More importantly, what is the real matter at hand?"
"……You had guessed. As expected, nothing can be hidden from you."
It was the quest window, not me, that had noticed, but anyway.
That wasn't what mattered.
I focused on Marcelo's following words.
Summarized, the core was this.
"The fusion of magic and science, two entirely different concepts. I have decided to call that advanced magic 'Gii'."[『Gii』]
So that's what it meant.
Then I could also guess the newly emerged quest objective.
"New concepts require verification, after all."
I possessed Grandfel's magical talent.
And on top of that, I had my own scientific knowledge as Iho-yeol.
Because I could accept those two concepts without difficulty.
There had been no great hardship in utilizing Gii either.
But other mages would be different.
Since even Marcelo, the Chief, was struggling with it.
'It means building from the ground up.'
Of course, it was a process I had no need for.
But there was a quest, wasn't there?
While progressing that quest, I might come to learn of the 'unavoidable circumstances of the Magic Tower.'
"Where do you need my assistance?"
To my question, Marcelo replied politely.
"I am sorry to keep indebted to you, but."
His following words made me flinch.
"I would like you to investigate a Rift."……
A Rift?
He's talking about that Rift, right?
The one where monsters pour out.
But what does a Rift have to do with Gii?
In that moment of flinching.
"……!"
Something flashed in my mind.'……No, a Rift is also like Gii.'
Gii is the fusion of two entirely different concepts.
A Rift is also two entirely different worlds.
A space where reality and Arcana are intertwined.
I recalled the scenery of such a Rift.
A landscape that looked like a subway and a troll's habitat mixed in half.
Yes, that scenery had been the very essence of [『Gii』].
I immediately opened my mouth.
"I understand your meaning, Marcelo."
"The Rift is where two worlds……. Yes? Y-you understood?"
At the same time, the quest objective updated.─Approach to Gii (In Progress)▼●Conquer the Rift. (Repeatable)
"I do not believe we can uncover much immediately. However, if we can acquire even a little information about the Rift, I am confident it will bring great progress to the research on Gii."
A quest that put my slackened pride on edge.
To avoid sinking, I would have to prepare thoroughly.
Warm-ups were essential.
Even if only to flounder about with purpose.
Of course, that alone might not be enough.
Class, Demon Hunter.[Natural Enemy]
Without it, I would be no fearless madman, but merely a reckless fool with a screw loose.
So I had decided to prepare thoroughly. Why, there was no need to flounder about completely bare-handed, was there?'Miracle herbs, potions, gear, item buffs, etc.……'
Any advantage I could leverage.
I had to use it to the fullest.
That was my way, after all.
To such a me, Marcelo spoke.
"I cannot accompany you, but conquering the Rift is also part of the research. No, it is like the first step toward truth rather than mere research. If you need anything, please request anything of the Magic Tower."……
'Anything,' he says.
At this point, it piqued my curiosity.
Did he know what I would request from the Magic Tower to say that?'Should I really show him anything?'
Really, should I show him what it means to uproot the very pillar?
Show him that words once spat out cannot be easily taken back?
I thought about it, then gave up.
Damn it. My damned integrity.
As long as Grandfel was watching with wide eyes.
I couldn't display useless greed.
However, greed and thorough preparation are two different things.
I should take whatever support the Magic Tower offered to the extent I could.
Click. I set aside my inner turmoil and raised my teacup toward Marcelo.
"Then, drink up."
"The aroma is truly excellent. What is the name of this tea?"
"It is called green tea."
"Green tea……"
"Unfortunately, I have none to share with you."
"Ah, I had no intention……"
"But there's rocket delivery now, so it shouldn't matter."
"……Rocket delivery?"
"Just green tea and brown rice green tea. Which do you prefer?"
"……What difference lies between those two?"*[『Gii』]
Approach regarding Gii.
The conquest of the Rift that would become its foundation.
The first step of that preparation was knowing myself.'Know yourself and know your enemy.'
Well, I said it grandly.
But it just meant checking my inventory.
The Demon King, Decarabia.
The three items offered as sacrifices in the exorcism ritual for him.[Haunted Greatsword][Noble Lady's Jewelry Box][Necktie that Strangles]
Those demonic items.
Were in a purified state after defeating Decarabia.
I looked at those items with my Aesthetic Eye.
"Not bad."
They were items I had personally chosen at the auction house, after all.
Naturally, I had been meticulous.
What I regarded as most important was the level restriction.'Even with ample funds, one must spend them properly for it not to be a waste.'
I checked the sword's information first.[Anonymous Blacksmith's Masterpiece - Longsword][Grade: Unique][Restrictions: Lv. 280][Effect: Upon attack, high chance to inflict the abnormal status 'Bleeding' on the opponent.][Description: The blacksmith's final work. Only after the lingering resentment faded was its true value regained.]
……I hadn't expected much, but this was a surprise.
It was an ability I couldn't have imagined when it was [Haunted Greatsword], right?
Above all, it was a Unique-grade longsword.
Leaving aside the effect, just its basic performance alone…….
How many times the purchase price had I gained on this?'Finally escaping the training sword.'
Swordsmanship training.
The [Ryan Heart Knight Order - Training Longsword] I had kept during that process.
Now that I had acquired an item with far superior performance.
I could finally shed some of my beginner look.
I checked the jewelry box's information with satisfaction.[Jewelry Box Filled with Warmth][Grade: Unique][Restrictions: None][Effect: Grants 'Warmth' to stored accessories for a set duration.][Description: A jewelry box passed down through a noble house. A mother's heart for her daughter has been handed down through generations.]
Wait, this is Unique too?
At this point, I couldn't help but flinch.
Do I perhaps have a bit of an eye for things?'It's an item that buffs accessories.'
Quite a peculiar form of item.
A [Warmth] buff.
Just looking at it, nothing came to mind.
Well, the buff's effect.
I could check it gradually.
Finally, I picked up the necktie.[Luxury - Count Swalin's Cherished Possession][Grade: Unique][Restrictions: Lv. 250][Effect: Upon equip, slight increase in mana regeneration / slight increase in Aesthetics stat][Description: Count Swalin's necktie. It harbored a curse befitting its complicated history, but now that it is purified, it possesses value more than enough to be displayed in a museum.]
This time, not just Unique, but Luxury?!
Now I was certain.
I seemed to have a natural talent even at auctions, after all.'To be precise, it's not my talent but Grandfel's.'
Surely, the Aesthetic Eye had evaluated even the original value hidden beneath the curse.
With just this Aesthetic Eye alone, I wouldn't starve.
I had that thought.'What do you mean, several times.'
I had gained profits worth tens of times the purchase price.
Of course, there was not the slightest change in my emotions.
Because Grandfel's vessel was far too vast.
To be swayed by such trivial gains.
I nonchalantly equipped the necktie.
As expected, the modifier 'Luxury' was not undeserved.'It falls short of a Masterpiece.'
But even Luxury was one of those items whose value was recognized simply by having the title.
The effect was simple, yet it was an effect I desperately needed.'Slight increase in mana regeneration.'
Because it was slight, there wouldn't be a dramatic effect.
But its utility was higher than even a brooch.[Effect: Recovers 10% of mana consumed upon using magic.]
That mana regeneration increased without such conditions?
Whether in the middle of battle or during rest.
It meant it regenerated mana.
Similarly, a slight increase.[Aesthetics]
remained at the [Low] grade, but…….'Good enough.'
It was an excellent result for a first purchase at the auction house.
Besides, I hadn't forgotten the [Necklace of the Sublime Promise] acquired during Count Askyura's Rift.
An item with a whopping Lv. 300 restriction.
I had wondered if I could even equip this.
But there were only 5 levels left until that Lv. 300.
I checked my appearance in the mirror.'A suit, a handkerchief, a necktie…….'
Somehow an appearance even more formal than before.
As if such attire weren't enough, my silver hair on top of it.
It was enough to feel alien.
Yet for some reason.
I didn't feel the slightest bit unfamiliar with myself in the mirror.
Gazing at the mirror, I muttered.
"This, too, is me."
Grandfel, my past and my dark history.
This alien feeling as well.
Was part of the process of overcoming that dark history.
Knowing that, I didn't hesitate.
I immediately headed to the Yusra Kingdom via portal.
To conquer the newly formed Rift in the Yusra Kingdom.
"Whoever it is, that confidence is remarkable."
Not knowing whose land…….
No, under whose 'authority' it rests, he says…….
A Rift had appeared in the Yusra Kingdom.
There was nothing particularly meaningful to attach to that fact.
It was merely that the number of newly updated Rifts had increased.
It was Nam Tae-min who conveyed the information regarding it.
"Simply put, the number of Rifts has increased. And one of them has appeared near the Yusra Kingdom. And this is something only hyung and I know……"
I looked at Nam Tae-min whispering beside me.
……Is it okay to tell me something this important?
Of course, I was grateful.
Who is Nam Tae-min?
The strongest player in the Republic of Korea and the guild master of Gaon, ranked 3rd in the world.
The information and rumors such a Nam Tae-min acquired?
It was high-level information I had no way of knowing.
"An interesting story."
And there I was, accepting that favor as a matter of course.
At my reply, Nam Tae-min continued.
"The moment Inazuma severed its ties with the Japanese government! In effect, the Japanese government has lost both the justification and the reason to claim rights over Frost."
Even among high-level information.
Stories regarding Frost were especially important.
Because I possessed the 'authority' function in Frost.
Until now, I had stayed my hand because I thought the residents of Frost needed time to accept the situation.
But now I had no choice but to begin moving.'I can't just watch that mess forever.'
After the Demon King Decarabia subjugation.
The attitude shown by the Japanese government had been truly tenacious.
With the single fact that Frost overlapped their territory, they brought up all manner of reasons to claim rights over it. So this was inevitably unexpected.
"Hisagi Kazuma. That guy wouldn't do something like this for no reason."
That Inazuma would turn its back on the Japanese government.
Nam Tae-min also seemed to find it suspicious.'Of course, it's nothing for me to worry about.'
……Or so I had thought, brushing it aside just moments ago.
"Lord Iho-yeol!"
Including Hisagi Kazuma.
The entirety of Inazuma Guild was waiting for me.
Lined up in two neat rows before the Golden Palace.
In that fleeting moment.
I racked my brain.
What was the reason they had come to find me, in the Yusra Kingdom?
Was it because of the information I heard from Nam Tae-min?
I could roughly guess their intention.
However.
"Unfortunately."
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
"I do not hold meetings that are not scheduled in advance."
"……!!!"
No matter who it is.
No matter the circumstances.
Maintaining decorum and procedure is the priority.