Chapter 39

◈ Chapter 39. Performance Test (2)

Twenty senior mages of the Magic Tower.

They were the representatives of each school of magic.

Naturally, their relationships were not particularly good.

After all, they were mages with strong egos.

That alone was enough reason.

The senior mages competed for the position of Chief Mage.

The Chief Mage of the Magic Tower.

It was a position that only the pinnacle mage of a generation could occupy.

In that sense, the senior mages of the current generation were relatively on good terms.

All thanks to the common enemy, Chief Mage Marcello.

"Tsk. I knew he would cause trouble someday."

"He's always holed up in his laboratory, so his senses have dulled."

"Wasn't it an impossible task from the start?"

Crystal Hall.

Twenty senior mages gathered in the space where the regular conference was held.

The reason they were having a conversation while hiding their true intentions was simple.

"Joint research with adventurers? What nonsense."

Marcello's decision.

They were there to challenge his misjudgment.

To pull Marcello from his position as Chief Mage and leave it vacant.

The possibility of success was overwhelming.

Most importantly, adventurers?

"Huh. Did he have no one else to rely on?"

In the days when Arcana was just a game.

Before the interference of worldviews.

Adventurers were unknown entities.

They had the power of immortality, able to come back to life even after death.

But in this world, the world of adventurers, they no longer possessed that power.

The only remaining possibility had also vanished.

"Even if such an incident occurred at the regular conference, we still don't know the truth, do we?"

"Right. It might have been a fluke that the adventurer stumbled upon the research."

"Most importantly, it's unbelievable that an adventurer could understand magic."

Elysia Vellie, the senior mage of the Healing School.

She remained silent.

In the Crystal Hall.

Despite the special nature of the space, not a single breeze blew.

Yet, for some reason,

Her long, light green curly hair trembled slightly.

Elysia was barely holding back her laughter.

'Ah, it's so funny. Really, do they think this is necessary?'

Her thoughts were not about the adventurer, I Ho-yul.

Elysia, too, did not yet trust Ho-yul.

However, the case with Marcello was different.

Marcello, the founder of Theoretical Magic.

He did not discriminate between schools of magic.

From the Magic Tower, even to those outside the tower.

Marcello systematized the vast array of magic into Theoretical Magic.

Thanks to this great achievement, Marcello became a senior mage and soon after, the Chief Mage.

'No matter how much they talk, can they even scratch his achievements?'

Even if the position of Chief Mage is coveted.

In fact, they themselves know.

No matter how much they scheme, they cannot take Marcello's position through normal means.

So, they are risking their lives this time.

Elysia reined in her mockery and looked around.

'...Of course, more than anyone else.'

Matthias Din Karl of the Black Magic School.

He must be the one gnashing his teeth the most.

Matthias, who had elevated the Black Magic School from being treated as a heretical school to its current position.

It was commonly believed that if Marcello had not appeared like a comet, the current Chief Mage of the Magic Tower would have been Matthias.

'Well, that's just a hypothetical.'

Elysia shrugged lightly.

It was time.

The sound of loud chatter filled the air.

"This seems like it will be difficult to enter on time, doesn't it?"

Indeed, the proof of qualifications had already begun.

Joint research with the Chief Mage.

Since they were receiving the same treatment as the Chief Mage.

Strict proof of qualifications was inevitable.

Honestly, for an adventurer.

There was no expectation that they would pass the qualification.

'Look at how they are gnashing their teeth.'

Just by looking at the tightly closed entrance, one could tell.

The triple-layered seal magic of different types.

It was enough to make even Elysia stick out her tongue.

'Perhaps only Marcello could do it.'

Even the senior mages, including herself, would take a considerable amount of time to break the seal.

In that sense, the qualification was already a failure, and the result was clear.

Why, the agreed time was almost up...

Click!

"..."

At that moment.

The first seal was broken.

No, the sound did not stop there.

Click!

Clank!

The continuous sounds.

The triple-layered seal magic was instantly broken.

The three senior mages who cast the magic were shocked.

"Impossible!"

"...Did he break it so quickly?"

"...Could it be Marcello? Is it Marcello?"

The door opened.

But Marcello was not there.

A single shadow stood in the backlight.

At that moment, a memory surfaced in Elysia's mind.

'...Could it be?'

It was the story told by the skilled mage of the Healing School, Clega.

-Excuse me, Senior Mage Vellie. If, hypothetically, someone approached me without an invitation... Would that mean they saw through the Chief Mage's illusion magic?

Clega was not a child who spoke nonsense.

So, Elysia asked in return.

Why, was there such a person?

-That silver-haired... No, no! I misspoke.

Although he did not finish his sentence.

That child, Clega, definitely said that.

Click!

A man appeared from the backlight.

Elysia's pupils widened.

"!"

His hair was clearly silver.

...

Crystal Hall.

I did not expect to return here so quickly.

Especially to prove my abilities.

I looked at the faces of the gathered people.

Twenty, as written in the quest.

Indeed, they are senior mages.

Each one exudes a menacing aura.

If we compare the oppressive atmosphere...

'All of them are definitely stronger than Harcon.'

Harcon's level is 600.

Then, what level are these mages?

I realize the level of the Magic Tower anew.

But.

Click!

Whether I like it or not.

I walked to the center of the Crystal Hall, enjoying their gazes.

Then, I spoke.

"Someone seems to have tampered with the door."

As if it were extremely unpleasant.

The cause of this unpleasantness is clear.

I want to go home so badly right now!

Conference, Yusra Island, and again the Crystal Hall where the conference was held.

I managed to get some sleep in the laboratory.

But that would not alleviate the fatigue from overwork.

In the midst of this, the quest appeared.

Even if I am used to proving myself.

Isn't this schedule too formal?

The Magic Tower doesn't have labor laws, does it?

"I am not idle enough to indulge in your pranks."

Overtime is exhausting...

My dissatisfaction was conveyed.

Some of them showed a startled reaction.

I continued, looking at them.

"If this is a waste of my time with such a prank."

I want to go home.

"I will formally hold you accountable for this."

I want to pour hot water on you.

"!!!"

In response to my words.

Three people reacted strongly.

Why are they reacting like that? Just as I thought.

The quest window flashed.

- Prove your abilities. (In progress)

● Convince the majority of senior mages. (3/20)

And a response came.

"...We will withdraw our objections to Chief Mage Marcello's decision. We will also recognize the joint research qualifications of the adventurer, I Ho-yul."

I thought naturally.

Yes, you should have done this from the beginning.

*

[Someone has uncovered the secrets of Yusra Island.]

[The ancient kingdom, Yusra Kingdom, has revealed itself.]

Who is the 'someone' who made a mark in Arcana's history?

For the media, there is no better gossip.

Especially since there is nothing to reveal, there is no need to take responsibility.

It means they can talk about it however they want.

For ratings.

As provocatively as possible.

"I think it's Scar."

"Scar, the top-ranked player, you mean?"

"Yes, would Scar be satisfied with just the treasure of an island? He must be pretending not to know after defeating a great evil to maintain his mysterious image."

Of course, many people think it's only Scar.

But there is a significant flaw in this argument.

"If Scar defeated it, his level would have increased."

Indeed.

Scar's current level is 406.

It's too low of an increase to have defeated Greed, one of the Seven Sins, with a level approaching 650.

So, another possibility arises.

"I think it's the Ryan Heart Knights."

That's the most likely option.

Moreover, there were witnesses for the Ryan Heart Knights.

"It was like a single flash of light? Completely destroying the skeletons and advancing!"

650 levels.

A monster that players could not possibly defeat.

But the Ryan Heart Knights, known as the strongest in the empire, might have a chance.

Moreover, they had allies.

"Gaon and Berserker. And finally, I Ho-yul. With that much power, they might have had a chance, right? Considering Harcon poured all his strength."

After much speculation and discussion.

Public opinion was narrowing.

It was believed that the Ryan Heart Knights and players joined forces to defeat the great evil, Greed. But for those who know the truth, it was frustrating.

"Ugh. I can't even show this. Really!"

I'm so frustrated.

Thump! Thump!

Nam Taemin, watching TV, pounded his chest.

The only one who could empathize with him was his brother.

"They're just imagining things in strange ways. What did we do? In the end, it was only Ho-yul who defeated the great evil."

Nam Cheolmin had the truth of that day recorded.

The battle that Nam Taemin witnessed.

It was so astonishing that he could not help but watch it over and over.

Ho-yul, who destabilized the great evil upon meeting.

The skill bombardment he unleashed on the great evil.

It was an overwhelming battle unlike anything seen