Chapter 684 – Crossing Paths, Interlocking (1) #PART2

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The Magic Tower.
The place where order must be upheld.
And yet, the Tower Master’s conviction was beginning to waver.

‘My lord…’

He had somewhat expected it.
The seal on Mugan was a conundrum. Unless one had access privileges, it couldn’t be broken by conventional means, no matter how long they tried.
But that magic wasn’t conventional.

Yes, if it was the lord’s reversal magic, which worked on an entirely different system…

‘I thought he might be able to undo the seal on Mugan.’

He had simply ignored the possibility because he couldn’t guess the reason.
But ignoring it didn’t make it disappear.
Marcelo opened his mouth.

“It’s been a while, my lord.”
“Indeed, Marcelo.”
“I assume there was something you desired within Mugan.”

What Marcelo really wanted to ask was:
Why hadn’t he been asked to help?
Before he realized it, his hand was clenched into a fist.

‘…Perhaps my lord had already sensed something.’

That strange discomfort that had tingled in his nerves.
Marcelo had begun noticing anomalies in Mugan not long ago. Hadn’t he even considered asking the lord to go in with him?

‘I tried so hard to gain your recognition…’

But I still must not have met your expectations.
That’s why—once again—My lord had gone alone to resolve the disturbance in Mugan.
Marcelo continued, pretending it was no big deal.

“Your actions are clearly in violation of the Magic Tower regulations. However, the timing was rather… fortunate. At the upcoming symposium, we were planning to announce a new title for you.”

Honorary Chief.
Even though Hoyeol had left the Magic Tower, Marcelo had left a place and authority ready for him.
Thanks to that, the solution was simple. He could simply invoke his authority as Tower Master to activate Hoyeol’s honorary position a few days earlier.

The Round Table had already reached a consensus long ago.

‘There is no one who would object to this decision.’

Marcelo had consulted not only the twenty senior mages, but even the ghosts of Amethyst Hall who had gathered upon his summons.
As expected, it was a unanimous vote.

Yes—
Except for the man in question.

“Your intention is appreciated, but I must decline.”

Hoyeol.

“My breaking of the rules is still a fact.”
“That much can be overlooked with the Tower Master’s authority—”
“Marcelo.”

At that firm call, Marcelo’s pupils trembled.

“You, the Tower Master, are the Magic Tower itself.”
“!”

Why did those eyes feel so unfamiliar?
More accurately—though they were facing each other, it felt like he was looking far, far beyond.

But Marcelo wasn’t mistaken.

“You mean that even the foundations and rules must not be shaken.”

That same familiar tone.
It was definitely the lord he knew.
Marcelo responded heavily.

“I understand. You mean to say there should be no exceptions.”
“……!!!”

Hoyeol and Marcelo.
Among everyone watching, the senior mages were the most tense.
Kiko, who had arrived late, received her orders from Marcelo.

“I hereby authorize the use of decisive magic tools.”

Goooooooo…

At once, the artifacts began resonating with magic power.
The expressions of the senior mages weren’t good.
Hadn’t they heard enough through the conversation?

Above all…

Senior of Black Magic Mage, Matisse, gathered his suitable magic power.

‘The former Chief wants a confrontation.’

Could anyone even imagine this?
The one hailed as the strongest in the Arcana continent.
Now standing alone against the Magic Tower.

And the Magic Tower’s power had increased exponentially.
With the addition of Amethyst Hall, and every one of these seniors being seen as geniuses of the Arcana continent, it was only a matter of time before the anomaly was fully realized.

So Matisse began to doubt—

‘Even for the former Chief… can he really oppose us?’

Above all, Tower Master Marcelo had declared:

“In accordance with the rules, I will stop you.”
“That’s what I was hoping for.”
“I will ensure you remain bound to the Magic Tower.”
“Is that, too, one of the Magic Tower’s rules?”
“Who knows?”

In a tone that finally felt like a proper mage again:

“I don’t think that’s the important part right now.”

BOOOOM—!

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…Rumble.
“Did you see that?”

The first adept mage among players, Jesse Heinness.
Jesse was researching in her lab within the Magic Tower.
As mentioned, the annual symposium was just around the corner.

Jesse was struggling to found her own school of magic in order to reach her goal of becoming a Senior Mage.
As expected, nothing came easy.

So much so that—

“I swear the teacup just moved on its own!”

Was she seeing things? Poor girl.
The cone hat sighed inwardly.

-Even the teacup’s got an itchy bottom, wriggling around. Jesse, there’s no way you can just sit still. Maybe if there was some progress. Creating Twilight Magic? You’re my apprentice and have talent as a Archmage, but that goal is overly arrogant…

But Jesse didn’t even flinch at the nagging.

…Shake!

“See? It’s shaking again!”

The tea in her cup spilled over the desk.

-And that’s why you shouldn’t brew tea you’re not going to drink.
“Is that really the issue right now?”
-Not important?! If the former Chief saw you wasting premium tea…!

Though now just a hat, the former Tower Master quickly assessed the situation.
The hat perched itself atop Jesse’s head.

-Never mind. This isn’t the time for research, Jesse.
“You feel it too, Master?”
-Yeah. Whoever it is, they’ve caused quite a ruckus.

Enough to shake the entire Magic Tower.

Crystal Hall, Garnet Hall, Topaz Hall, and so on…
Each space had its own rules.
And for the entire Tower to shake—there was no doubt.

This was at least the doing of Senior Mages.

“Is it up top, or down below?”
-Let’s go down and find out.
“Yes!”

Normally, Tower Master Marcelo would be at the very top.

-Most likely, it’s those Ten Throne fools.

The hat was certain.

-Idiots.

No matter how strong they were, none of the Ten Thrones could match the current Marcelo.
Now in the realm of anomalies, Marcelo could confidently claim to be the strongest Tower Master in histor —including himself.

-Whoever it is… I pity them.

To step into the Magic Tower while Marcelo was wide awake—
Eyes wide open—

-And in a bad mood lately, too.

Regardless, the hat deemed it a good opportunity for Jesse.
If she truly aimed to become a Senior Mage, she needed firsthand experience of what level her targets actually operated at.

The hat looked at the excited Jesse.

“Why is it… the closer I get, the more my heart pounds!”

Once she realized the gap, that excitement would likely turn to despair.
But it was time for Jesse to taste reality.
The hat steeled itself.

Maybe that’s why it wasn’t surprised.

-They went after Mugan? Well, it’s not an incomprehensible choice. Even within the Magic Tower, it’s a space that defies understanding. Of course it would seem even more mysterious to outsiders.

That the source of the shaking was Mugan’s entrance—

“Don’t you think something’s been buzzing for a while?”
“…Yeah, that’s weird.”
“There’s no way Seoul is having an earthquake.”
“What earthquake? The land’s already anomalous. Maybe a mega-rift.”

The Magic Tower Lobby.

Players, civilians, and film crews alike—
Everyone looked around in confusion at the trembling Magic Tower.
Most didn’t even know the basement existed.

But—

-Step downward, Jesse.

…Nod.

With the hat’s help, Jesse easily pushed through the crowd and headed for the Magic Tower’s basement.
Even the stairs to the basement were special—it was still the Magic Tower, after all.

As she stepped into empty air, the stairs appeared beneath her.

Step.

Swallowing hard.
Clutching her pounding chest.
Her steps toward Mugan halted—when—

“Jesse Heinness.”

A voice called out to her.

“I leave the rear to you.”

It was Hoyeol’s voice.

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…Huh?

Nam Cheolmin removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes.
Was he seeing things?
No—nothing had changed.
And then, the notification that made him gasp:

[The Magic Tower has been def■ted. Port■s are now cl■sed.]

“This… does this say ‘defeated’? Wait—did the Magic Tower lose?!”

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