Chapter 24

◈ Chapter 24. Objection (2)

Marcello doubted his own ears.

"...Redundancy?"

The de facto leader of the magic tower, the Chief Mage.

It was not a position that could be easily attained or maintained.

Not only did one need ability,

but one also had to continuously demonstrate results to hold the position of Chief.

"Is there a problem with the exploration process?"

Naturally,

Marcello took great pride in his position as Chief Mage.

But what was this?

Was there redundancy in the exploration process?

"Even from an adventurer...?"

Moreover, the one who pointed this out was an adventurer.

Even the senior mages who coveted the Chief's position kept silent.

How could an adventurer, ignorant of magic, raise such a question?

Crystal Hall.

"Things are about to get messy."

"Given Marcello's temper, he won't let this slide."

"By the way, who is that guy? I've never seen him before..."

The audience's murmurs were understandable.

It was as if cold water had been poured over an excellent presentation.

Marcello was about to explode.

He would turn into a venomous snake, spewing insults at anyone, senior or skilled mages alike...

"...Can you explain why you think that?"

...Wait, what was that response?

The audience was taken aback.

They thought it was nonsense.

They thought it was just a pointless nitpick.

They were certain Marcello would explode.

But this reaction...

"...Could there be some merit to the question?"

A voice, suddenly, softly.

Marcello responded internally.

'I have to admit it. There is redundancy.'

It was due to the discrepancy.

A concept of science, entirely different from magic.

He had combined these two concepts to create a new magic.

The process was extremely inefficient.

Even Marcello had spent months trying to manifest this insignificant sphere of flame.

In fact, even now, Marcello couldn't fully understand it.

'It's an unavoidable limitation.'

But even Marcello, with his high pride,

was still a mage of the magic tower.

Being criticized at a conference?

That was a lesser shame compared to the pursuit of the essence of magic.

So he asked the man.

Marcello's question.

The audience's gaze focused on the man.

The players, who had been watching silently, began to whisper.

"...Hey, isn't that Lee Ho-yul?"

"Only now noticing? There's no one else with that silver hair concept."

"Didn't I tell you he's from our department? But what's with the alchemist nonsense? Just by looking, you can tell he exudes the nobility of our mage class..."

"Hey, let's show some manners during the conference."

Manners.

Especially in front of Ho-yul.

The players quickly shut their mouths.

Meanwhile, Jesse, ignoring the cap-wearing player who had been talking to her, stood straight.

She had her hands folded neatly on her stomach, a very polite posture.

The attention poured in.

"...Wow. I might even get motion sickness."

"If it were me, I'd stutter. Really."

"I'd probably bite my tongue."

Moreover, the ones sending him unfriendly gazes were all great mages of the magic tower.

One would expect him to be intimidated.

But there was not a trace of tension in Ho-yul.

He remained seated in the crystal chair.

His posture remained unchanged.

And he answered.

"I have also experienced that discrepancy, Chief Mage Marcello."

...Experienced it?

No, how did he realize that I felt the discrepancy?

A flustered Marcello.

Then, a comforting voice followed.

"But it's fine."

"...?"

Whoosh—

Suddenly, flames rose from Ho-yul's palm.

The flames rotated, forming a sphere of fire.

Identical to Marcello's.

"...!!!"

The Crystal Hall was stunned.

Of course, Ho-yul himself remained calm as he finished his words.

"Using centrifugal force in the interference process. The process was immature, but the result was not bad. It was an excellent presentation, Chief Mage Marcello."

*

Whoosh—

The rotating sphere of fire on his palm.

I swallowed my breath.

...So it could be used like this.

I had avoided using ignition due to its poor mana efficiency.

But by adding centrifugal force, a basic concept of elementary school science, the mana efficiency improved dramatically.

As you can see, it could be maintained for a long time with minimal mana!

'Indeed, coming here was a good decision.'

It wasn't just Marcello's sphere of fire.

The spells presented at the conference were all impressive.

Of course, they were far beyond my meager mana to manifest.

'But I'll keep them all in mind.'

With sufficient mana, I was confident I could manifest them immediately.

In that sense,

I couldn't help but praise it at the end.

"An excellent presentation."

Most of all, I felt a sense of camaraderie from Marcello.

I had also struggled with the discrepancy.

Like science and magic,

two completely different concepts.

To convert a [Skill] into [Magic],

I had spent several sleepless nights, which I still vividly remember.

Yes, even a great Chief Mage of the magic tower must have struggled for days, right?

Just look at his gaunt face.

"Let's take a short break and resume the conference!"

It was already break time.

I was still looking at the sphere of fire on my palm.

'Will this mana efficiency be maintained when I manifest it larger?'

Then, maybe I wouldn't have to fight so messily.

I was thinking about this when someone approached me.

A skeleton...

No, Chief Mage Marcello.

'...What is it?'

I was inwardly startled.

Because I had been paying attention to him.

After all, I had pointed out his research results.

And at a major event like a regular conference.

"Do you have something to discuss with me, Chief Mage Marcello?"

Of course, I couldn't show it.

With this body.

What could I do with this arrogant mouth?

But Marcello's next words were unexpected.

"Adventurer, Mr. Lee Ho-yul."

Marcello formally addressed me.

Then he politely requested.

"Can you join my research?"

At that moment, my vision flashed.

[Quest: Marcello's Research]

The Chief Mage of the Magic Tower, Marcello.

To reach a new level of magic,

he wishes to work with you.

—Accept Marcello's offer. (In progress)

...Not only magic, but a quest too?

I thought again.

Indeed, attending the conference was a good decision.

*

Yusra Islands.

In the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Clear skies.

Blue sea.

A gentle breeze.

Just the atmosphere makes it feel like a vacation.

"Sis, doesn't it feel a bit like the Arcana era?"

"Those days full of dreams and hopes. I remember them~"

"I should have brought a bikini."

The legendary island.

The scenery of the Yusra Islands was also legendary.

They say every aspect of the Yusra Islands is incomparable to the outside world.

Indeed, the natural scenery was more beautiful than any resort.

"Talking about bikinis. You're so restless. Shut up."

Of course, the berserker warrior who only knows fighting.

It was unrealistic to expect such sentiment from Leonie.

On the shining sandy beach,

Leonie stood with one leg crossed, looking at the portal with a slanted gaze.

"There are so many. For real."

Players?

It's natural for them to flood in.

What kind of place is the Yusra Islands?

In the past, when Arcana was just a game, it was the treasure island everyone sought.

The truth will be revealed when we see it.

But it's not strange for so many guilds and players to gather out of sheer anticipation.

"Yes, I'm currently at the Yusra Islands."

The presence of reporters filming the Yusra Islands and the players was also natural.

"I didn't expect that."

But even NPCs flooding in.

'No, should I call them Arcanians now?'

Anyway, even those summoned from Arcana flooded the Yusra Islands.

They must be interested in treasure, even if they don't care about monsters or rifts.

"Ah, headache."

Another truckload of competitors...

Leonie's head throbbed.

Just a quick look around, and there were impressive NPCs.

"Ryan Heart Knights. Shadow Mercenaries. What? The Adventurer's Guild? They can't resist treasure, can they?"

Fortunately,

the mages of the magic tower were consistent this time.

What kind of group is the magic tower?

A group where each mage's power surpasses imagination.

In the past, it was said that when the magic tower moved, the order of Arcana changed.

The mages of the magic tower focusing on research.

It was even joked that it was for balance.

"Huff—"

Moreover, there were monsters that could take on a hundred.

Especially since there was a high chance of Scall appearing in this Yusra Islands.

Rank 1, Scall.

His incomprehensible strength.

Leonie, as a fellow ranker, knew it well.

'...Ah, one more, Scall.'

Including Lee Ho-yul.

It's overwhelming.

Leonie sighed again.

"But I have to get something out of this."

Yes, she wasn't the only one worried about the competition.

Around the portal,

the subtle currents between players and guilds revealed their mutual vigilance.

She couldn't fall behind.

"...Sis, why are your eyes so wide?"

"They're staring at me with a creepy look."

"Maybe they just think you're cute?"

"Cute my ass."

Just as Leonie raised her already slanted eyes even higher,

Whirr—

On her white wrist,

her smartwatch vibrated.

Leonie connected the call.

"Huh? The conference is already over? Come right away?"

Guild ranking.

21st place, now up to 20th.

It wasn't strange for a Berserker guild member to be invited to the magic tower's regular conference.

That's right.

What was strange was the message from the guild member.

"...What? Lee Ho-yul got the Chief Mage's attention?!"

—Sis! Really, watch your language! It's not 'got the attention,' it's 'pointed out.'

"That's what I mean. So he got in trouble? Did he get scolded?"

Well, no matter how good you are,

you have to know your place.

To be rude to the magic tower, especially a Chief Mage.

Leonie stifled a chuckle.

"I knew it from the moment he started acting cheap. I did."

...She has a grudge, this sister.

The guild members were momentarily speechless.

Then Leonie was shocked.

"What, what?! The Chief Mage of the magic tower acknowledged it?"

That they accepted the criticism?

It was unimaginable.

But the surprises didn't end there.

"He even got a quest...?"

At that moment, Leonie stopped imagining.

A monster.

A monster with the magic tower's backing.

The terrifying image of him appearing in the Yusra Islands...

Shiver—

Leonie felt a chill.

This wasn't the time to stand around!

She quickly ended the call and said,

"We're going to act fast. Everyone, get ready!"

And that news about Ho-yul.

It wasn't just for Leonie.

"Uh-huh. I'm listening."

"...Lee Ho-yul?"

"Sure enough, he's a mage, that guy."

Similarly, the guild members who attended the regular conference.

The expressions of those who received the breaking news began to change.

"...What? Got a quest from the magic tower?"

"Are you sure? Is the information reliable?"

"Bowing his head in front of them? Does that even make sense...?"

"Bro... What do we do?"

Seoul's Lee Ho-yul.

In the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

He was completely changing the atmosphere of the Yusra Islands.

*

Naturally, I accepted Marcello's request.

[Conditions met.]

[Reward granted.]

It was a quest.

A quest that some people would love to do but can't.

Moreover, a linked quest!

And I thought the reward from the magic tower would be useful.

Why, if I could get an item related to mana regeneration, it would be a great gain.

'But... '

Where am I being led now?

'And where's the reward?'

I followed Marcello to the upper floors of the magic tower.

The stairs were extraordinary.

Whoosh—

When I stepped into the air, the floating marble supported my feet.

It's like a ride.

Wow, I wouldn't have been able to take a single step in the past.

Really.

"Thank you again for your cooperation."

A wooden door, also floating in the air.

In front of the ancient door,

Marcello continued.

"This is the research lab for Adventurer, Mr. Lee Ho-yul."

Could this lab be the first reward of the quest?

Marcello added to me.

"If you need anything for your research, please let me know."

...Truly unprecedented treatment.

If I had to guess,

I might be the first player to be assigned a lab in the magic tower.

But I was so calm.

I considered this excessive treatment to be entirely justified.

I replied.

"Then I'll request the items I need right away."

On the desk,

I scribbled on the parchment with a pen.

──────

1. Mana regeneration-related magical device...

──────

Very confidently.