C544
Redrun couldn't fully comprehend what had just occurred. Astonished, he stared into space for a moment before regaining his composure.
Incomprehensible? Was it really so?
He shook his head. It wasn't that he didn't understand it, but rather that he didn't want to.
...That's not right.
He couldn't just ignore it, even if he faced the worst of situations. Redrun forced himself to face reality.
And he acknowledged it.
How the opponent had ridiculously blocked 3,000 magical explosions.
"..."
Lucas had observed the entire process.
Most wizards had lost the will to fight. But did that mean the end of the battle?
It wouldn't be. Because the eyes of one of them still shone with life.
Redrun.
Lucas had discerned that this man was their leader.
"You've done quite well."
Redrun said, forcing a smile. Lucas decided not to delve into that obvious bravado.
It wasn't necessary.
"Will you continue?"
At that, Redrun's eyebrows arched. As if his pride had been wounded.
"...Do you think you've made us surrender with that?"
It wasn't that.
What Redrun should have done at that moment wasn't to engage in an unproductive argument with Lucas, but to encourage the wizards who had lost morale.
True. The opponent wasn't a commander or a strategist, but a wizard. It's no wonder he didn't understand the role a leader plays on the battlefield. However, Redrun seemed to have considerable influence among the wizards, as some of them recovered upon hearing his voice filled with anger.
[What are you going to do? It will be difficult to kill them with 3-star magic.]
'That's right.'
[Are you going to repeat what you did before until they get tired? Until they weaken so much that they die with just a touch?]
Residue's voice was full of disgust for the idea.
'No. I'm going to try to take advantage of the nature of this magical territory.'
[Nature?]
'This territory is a unique place that cannot be considered part of the Void World. The Beginning Wizard, undoubtedly, is an extraordinary man.'
Lucas said as he pulled out the sharp stone that was stuck in the ground.
'He made mana permeate the artificially created nature.'
[Oooh... Is there mana in the atmosphere of this territory?]
'And it's quite dense.'
[And what are you going to do with that?]
'I'm going to try something I devised when I was in my home universe.'
The mana in the atmosphere stirred as he drew a line in the air with the stone.
Zero Technique.
A combat method he devised when his mana chamber collapsed. He didn't know if he could use it well, but it was better than nothing. However, just before Lucas could lay down the mana,
"Stop."
A voice was heard. A strong warm wind swept through the room, and someone appeared.
A young woman in a green robe.
"..."
And Lucas lowered the stone he was holding again.
[Hmm? Aren't you going to show us whatever that Zero Technique is?]
'Later. I don't think this woman is as easy to deal with as to use that.'
That woman was stronger than the hundred wizards present, even than Redrun.
"Ah, Lady Altata... How did you get here...?"
"I'm already aware of the situation."
The woman's gaze turned to Lucas.
"It seems he has no intention of becoming a Seeker, but he has at least shown some qualification by being brought directly by the Lord."
"But that man insulted us..."
"You should have understood the situation," said the woman called Altata, interrupting.
"The unleashing of magic with the intent to kill the individual was excessive. Or is responding to insult by killing your opponent your way of facing the offense?"
"...I'm sorry."
"There are fairer ways to do it. Anyway, if that individual faces the test, he will meet you again."
"...Yes."
Redrun bowed his head in remorse. And then, without looking at Lucas, he left.
Altata turned back and said, "What are you doing? The test will start soon. Stay in your places."
In her calm voice, there was an undeniable strength. The wizards shivered like naughty children and, gradually, one by one, they disappeared.
In the end, at the top of the Magic Tower, only Lucas and Altata remained.
Her gaze turned to him. Altata wore a green robe and had hair matching in a green tone. The hair, reminiscent of a forest, made Lucas remember someone.
"Pleased to meet you. My name is Altata."
"...Lucas."
He didn't mention his last name, Traumen, on purpose.
"Lucas, first I'll apologize for the disrespect they showed. Additionally, if it's not a bother, I'd like to explain the tests of the 'Tower 77'."
Apology and proposal. Lucas nodded to both matters.
"Thank you. Then, let's descend to the surface first."
They both descended slowly and landed on the ground. Altata, she, shook the dust off her robe and headed towards the entrance of the tower.
The entrance was a huge iron door. It was so large that it could easily accommodate an entire house.
In the middle of the door was engraved a pattern emitting a dim light, a magical design that Lucas had never seen before.
Altata placed the palm of her hand on that pattern.
Kuguung─
The door opened majestically, as if she said "Open the door." The interior landscape that was revealed beyond was austere. Most of the decorations were made of stone, and the only lighting came from torches that would be appropriate in a cave.
However, there was no sense of dirtiness or disorder. There wasn't even any trash, and the dust was barely noticeable.
And a hallway.
A long and grand hallway stretched out before them.
'It's wider than it looks from the outside.'
It wasn't just a metaphor; it was a fact.
[Hmm. It seems that this tower, besides the rooftop rooms, is isolated from the outside world.]
Altata began to walk down the hallway.
"Please, consider it as advice."
Just as Lucas followed her, a serious voice was heard.
"I overheard your conversation."
"Conversation?"
"Before tackling the tower conquest, you imposed many restrictions."
"However..."
"Probably, aside from the Lord of the Magic Planet, you're the strongest wizard."
[She seems to have a good eye, more than that other newbie]
Residue chuckled.
"The tricks you showed in the fight with Redrun would probably make the Lord sweat too."
"...What are you insinuating?"
"Floor 30."
Floor 30?
"That's the maximum floor limit you can reach, with the restrictions you mentioned."
"..."
"In other words, you can only defeat the 'Seven Magicians' up to the second level."
Lucas didn't particularly feel bad or offended. In fact, he thought it might be true.
"What level are you among the Seven Magicians?"
"Have I proclaimed myself as one of the Seven Magicians?"
"You seem much stronger than that boy called Redrun, I just mentioned him in passing."
Hmm. A sound of satisfaction was heard.
"I am the fourth and I am in charge of the 44th floor."
The fourth. Right in the middle. And that means there are at least three magicians stronger than this woman.
"Time is also a problem. One month is clearly insufficient, isn't it?"
"I see."
"..."
The conversation suddenly cut off and Altata stopped. It was because the hallway had come to an end.
This time, it was a stone door.
She turned around in front of it. Her cold eyes shone with slight curiosity.
"Do you understand what I said correctly?"
"Are you advising me to relax the restrictions or extend the conquest period of the tower?"
"You understand perfectly."
"I appreciate your advice, but I have no intention of doing so."
Her eyebrows moved. Would she feel offended because her advice was ignored?
"May I ask why?"
"Your lord agreed with the proposal I made."
Altata froze.
"Agreed..."
"Well. If these conditions were completely absurd or impossible, he would have had a different reaction."
"That's a convenient interpretation. Perhaps he thought that persuading wouldn't serve any purpose and that he would have to confront it directly to understand it. In fact, isn't it true that your Lord barely laughed when I mentioned that one-month period?"
It could also be mockery.
"In that case, I have even less reason to retract what I said."
He didn't care what others thought, but he didn't want to appear weak to the Beginning Wizard. There wasn't a clear reason, but that feeling was real.
Altata remained silent at his words and then she said:
"You resemble my lord."
"..."
"It seems I have said something unnecessary. Please forgive my lack of respect."
She bowed her head slightly. It was a simple gesture, but not excessive, which made it pleasant.
"May this ascent to the tower strengthen your arrogance even more. I hope to see you again on the 44th floor someday."
With those words, Altata disappeared.
She seemed to have returned to her original place. And Lucas looked at the door in front of him. It was small and unassuming, compared to what he had seen when entering.
"It seems this side is the 'first floor'."
[Ascending the tower... what a tedious process. Having to climb from the first floor. I really don't like it.]
Lucas smirked mockingly and said:
"Don't give me advice or warnings from now on. I want to do it alone."
[Hmph. Do as you please.]
Residue snorted and Lucas opened the door.
A flash of bright light filled his sight. For a moment, he thought he would go blind, but Lucas didn't look away. He wanted to understand exactly what was going on.
'... It's not a change of space.'
It was more like...
"Welcome to the first floor."
A warm sun could be seen, the scent of flowers, and a well-kept garden.
An old man was sitting at an outdoor table in that place.
Smiling kindly, he looked at him.
"I'm the old 'Torun'. My role is to explain the tower system to climbers. Also, I am the first simple test."
"...Torun."
Lucas nodded.
"I don't have time, could you summarize it briefly?"
"An impatient climber, eh. Alright."
Torun smiled and continued speaking.
"First, I will talk about the internal structure of the tower. The Magic Tower, or the Tower of 77, is composed of independent spaces on each floor. Generally, the way to ascend to the next floor is by completing the wizard's test on that floor."
Space, huh.
It's packaged, isn't it?
[Packaged?]
'Don't you know? This place, an independent space, isn't that kind of concept.'
Lucas looked around as he spoke.
'These are the Three Thousand Worlds.'
[Hoo...]
'If each floor is an independent space, as this old man says... then this tower is connected to a total of 77 external worlds.'
[Is this also the work of the Beginning Wizard?]
'Probably. I don't know how it's possible.'
It's a pity that since the ascent to the tower began, most of his powers have been restricted, so he can't analyze them properly.
Torun, unaware that Lucas had discovered one of the tower's greatest secrets, continued his explanation.
Each floor has different tests, different characters, and different environments...
Therefore, one cannot reach the top with just one or two outstanding talents...
After a general explanation, Torun said:
"So, before the test, let me briefly measure the climber's abilities."
Measurement, huh.
"Don't get nervous. It's just to see your aptitude as a wizard."
The moment Torun snapped his fingers, several images appeared behind him.
"Floors 1 to 10 are called the Test Room. It's where the 5 most important qualities for a wizard are demonstrated."
"5 qualities?"
"Those emphasized by the Lord. Observation, analysis, creativity, application, and calculation ability. Those in the first 10 floors will quantify the climber's data through simple tests."
[It's quite childish.]
Lucas totally agreed with Residue's opinion.
"And..."
Zwoosh!
Some statistics appeared in front of Lucas.
There were a total of 7, and they were someone's statistics.
"These are the approximate statistics of the 'Seven Magicians' who rule the Tower. It's unlikely, but if the climber exceeds any of their statistics in an area, they may receive privileges to aid them in the ascent."
Privileges, huh.
In other words, getting a good score here will make conquering the tower easier?
"Let's get to the point and start. What I'll measure is 'observation'. Here's the first puzzle."
Torun said with a smile.
"About 5 minutes have passed since the climber and I met. During that time, I underwent many changes, big and small. You may not have noticed."
"..."
"It doesn't matter. Please tell me the changes that happened to me."
Torun smiled widely.
"As it's the first time, I'll give you 10 minutes to think..."
"The design of the tie."
"..."
"The shape of the embroidery on the top of the jacket, the color of the pupils, the type of gloves, the material of the shoes, the number of buttons on the sleeves has decreased... and although it's not a change that happened to you."
Lucas lifted the teacup in front of him.
"It seems even the contents of the cup have changed."
"...."
Tags:
TGMRA (Novel)