Chapter 65

◈ Chapter 65. The Magic Tower (2)

A mere 300 levels.

Originally, I wouldn't even have been able to become an apprentice magician.

My pitiful level would have prevented me from even approaching the Magic Tower.

However, that worry was rendered meaningless.

I skillfully evaluated the results of the magicians' research.

In fact, it wasn't that strange.

Considering Granfel's talent, it made sense.

There was no need to give an example.

'Thinking about what happened at the regular conference...'

To present at the regular conference, one must pass a verification process.

Conversely, all research presented at the regular conference has passed the verification process, meaning it is of high quality.

I casually replicated the advanced magic presented by the chief magician, Marcello, at such a conference.

Yes, for someone with such talent.

The research of skilled magicians?

It was hard to see it as anything special.

Moreover.

"You're full of confidence."

"…Pardon? What do you mean?"

"You were planning to present this kind of research at the conference?"

"…What?!"

With this prickly personality.

There was no way he would beat around the bush.

Of course, every action should be conducted with formality and pride.

If it was just subpar, I would have gently advised him.

However.

"First page. From the twentieth to the thirtieth page. You've cleverly changed the words of paragraphs taken from books. Do you really think this paper contains your own research, Skilled Magician, Cyril Yube?"

The problem was that it was clearly visible to me...

'Even a dog can recite poetry after three years.'

Going to bed late, waking up early, and voraciously reading magic books.

I would even scribble the process of manifestation with a quill pen to remember it.

'So, you should have done better.'

Even I thought this was a bit much.

Granfel's noble pride would never tolerate it.

Thus, it was natural that polite words couldn't come out.

"Rejected."

"It should be discarded."

"You couldn't even properly transcribe it."

However, just spewing insults and dismissing them wasn't the attitude a chief should have.

Swish─

I slashed the research paper with a quill pen.

"…?"

"You should start by correcting the errors in the exploration process. The method of interference is unnecessarily convoluted and inefficient. If it's a mistake, correct it; if it's a habit, break it."

"…!"

Of course, how much that advice would help was uncertain.

Breaking a habit is easier said than done.

But accepting it was entirely up to them.

"Thank you!"

Yes, that's how I sent back the research.

That was already the twentieth magician I had sent away.

I inwardly flinched.

'…Am I going to reject everyone?'

Fortunately, this time it was a proper research.

"Cle Audia."

"Ah, yes, yes!"

"You've chosen a difficult research topic."

A skilled magician in the Healing School, Cle Audia.

I read through the paper she submitted.

──────

Healing - Cultivation of Rare Herbs

──────

There are twenty schools in the Magic Tower.

Beneath those schools, countless branches exist.

This was a minor field among them.

Cle asked, slightly surprised.

"…Thank you for your kind words!"

In Arcana, 'rare herbs' refer to plants used as ingredients for elixirs.

Like potions that restore vitality or regenerate mana.

Naturally, it seemed far from her specialization in the Healing School.

The Healing School could restore the target's vitality and mana using only the mana of the manifestor.

However.

"Quite an interesting approach."

The research was always about the 'cultivation' of rare herbs.

It focused on 'cultivating' rare herbs.

Being an unfamiliar field,

Cle seemed to have prepared additional explanations.

But perhaps because I said it was interesting,

"Y-You said it was interesting…?"

She looked flustered.

She hadn't expected me to understand the research.

I agreed with her on that.

'Good conversation.'

The Shadow Mercenary Corps.

The 7th Stone, Alkali.

I had a conversation with the old man who drank potions like water.

About magic, potions, and the rare herbs used as ingredients.

Just in case there might be a use for it.

It had only been a few days since we talked for hours.

"Your logic and process seem sound, so the result is what matters."

Thanks to that, I could talk convincingly.

I slashed with the quill pen.

"I'll be watching at the regular conference."

Yes, this was an interesting research for me too.

'Low level.'

The resulting low mana.

The only way to supplement my meager mana was with equipment or potions.

However, finding equipment that matched Granfel's discerning taste and had excellent effects was no easy task.

No matter how much money I had, the supply of items was insufficient.

'But if I can cultivate the rare herbs used to make elixirs.'

It would mean being able to mass-produce precious potions.

This was a tempting possibility.

So I added a word to Cle.

"Approach your research with confidence."

"…!!"

Cle's eyes widened and then returned to normal.

"I'll do my best!"

Good, the first pass.

After that, the rejections continued.

"Unfortunately, it's a real eyesore."

In the end, I only passed one research out of all the verifications... Did I reject too many? I wondered if it was a problem.

As I said.

Hadn't I made up my mind?

If I was going to be crazy,

I would be so crazy that no one could touch me.

So I thought shamelessly.

'It's the fault of the person who assigned it.'

If they didn't like how I handled things, they shouldn't assign it to me in the future...

*

Topaz Hall.

"…What?"

The senior magicians, who had returned to their laboratories after the verification, were in shock.

They were sure their research would pass.

Rejection?

What was going on here?

"Was it a mistake?"

"…No. I couldn't say a word."

"What? You couldn't answer the questions?"

"No. I didn't even get asked questions."

"…Huh?"

What kind of nonsense was this?

Out of disbelief, I asked for the details.

Of course, it was Ihoyeol.

The name of the chief co-researcher.

When I first heard that name,

I felt my blood boil.

An adventurer, with the same qualifications as a chief magician.

The senior magicians, who had swallowed their pride, couldn't stand it.

But this time, it went beyond what they could tolerate.

"I, of all people, verified this research..."

The regular conference is a matter of honor for the schools.

Therefore, before the verification at Topaz Hall,

it was natural to have an internal meeting at the school level.

Isn't that against the rules?

Some senior magicians snickered.

Everyone does it, so why pretend otherwise?

That's why it was incomprehensible.

"We need to formally raise this issue with the higher-ups."

In that ominous atmosphere,

"Hmm..."

The senior magician of the Healing School, Bellie, was a bit distant.

Cle's research had passed, after all.

And it was due to the judgment of the noisy Ihoyeol.

Cle came to me with tears in her eyes.

"Mr. Bellie…!!"

At first, I thought the result wouldn't be good.

Cle's research was definitely in an unfamiliar field.

The reviewer might find it hard to recognize its true value.

So I thought of comforting her.

'Use the failure as fertilizer and aim for the next conference.'

But then,

"I passed!"

Cle's research had passed.

"Mr. Ihoyeol, the chief co-researcher…!!"

By the chief co-researcher, Ihoyeol.

Bellie listened to Cle's story.

Cle wasn't a child who made up stories.

But Bellie couldn't help but doubt her ears.

According to Cle,

'…He knows about healing, pharmacology, and manufacturing.'

And at a considerable level.

That was why Bellie couldn't just be happy.

"I voted in favor to watch closely."

To show his presence so early.

Bellie smiled wryly.

"But it won't be easy, will it?"

Bellie knew the underside of the senior magicians well.

Their twisted obsession with magic.

The regular conference was where it was most evident.

Ihoyeol had hit a nerve with them.

The other senior magicians wouldn't just sit by.

"The Magic Tower will be in turmoil from tomorrow."

Bellie stroked her green hair.

…No matter what.

Recognizing Cle's true value.

Bellie smiled.

"Still, don't be too disappointed. I have no intention of joining them, at least not this time or in the future."

.

.

.

But contrary to Bellie's expectations, the Magic Tower was quiet.

The reason was simple.

"…What, plagiarism?"

"I'm ashamed…"

"Is it certain? Did he definitely catch it?"

The important thing wasn't that plagiarism occurred.

It was whether Ihoyeol had caught it accurately.

The result, not the process, was what mattered.

But the answer was shocking.

"I couldn't deny it at all! Which book, which page, which paragraph, even which line! Chief Co-Researcher Ihoyeol had memorized all the books!"

Is that even possible?

Where in the world is such a monster?

Isn't that even worse than Marcello?

"Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

"Absolutely not. His eyes were really…!"

"No, think again. Maybe it was leading questions…"

"I told you! I didn't say a word. It was all my fault. If you keep this up, I'll just quit the senior process and everything…!"

"Ah, my dear. First, calm down."

The senior magicians preparing to raise the issue were left speechless.

After hearing the story,

They calculated that raising the issue would only damage their reputation.

"…Let's pretend this never happened."

So they had no choice but to back down.

Thus, in Topaz Hall,

The parade of rejections continued.

After Ihoyeol's appearance.

A new current was blowing through the Magic Tower.

"Sniff."

…With tears and wind.

*

Indeed, my thinking was right.

I will become a crazy person that no one can touch!

Thanks to my faithful execution of that resolve,

I was able to complete my duties as a chief without major issues.

I checked the quest window.

[Quest: Marcello's Research]

The Magic Tower, Chief Magician Marcello.

To reach a new level of magic,

He wants you to join him.

─Accept Marcello's proposal. (Success)

─Prove your ability. (Success)

─The Weight of the Chief (Repeat)▲

●Conduct verification at Topaz Hall. (Success)……

…The problem is that this is a repeat quest.

But, this much effort.

Compared to the benefits I gained from the Magic Tower, it was nothing.

Moreover, I was clear about give and take.

If I put in more effort than I received?

I would just get an equivalent reward from the Magic Tower.

Enjoying the benefits of the Magic Tower as a chief...

Or rather, how much I could legally enjoy.

Starting with the rental of magical tools.

Even the item appraisal service that other players had to pay a fortune for.

'This is a right I should enjoy as a chief.'

For that,

I could easily shout rejections.

The resolve was brief.

I pulled the teacup with telekinesis.

Clack─

Tilting the teacup, I spoke.

"Time cannot be stopped, even by magic."

Putting aside the pretense, simply put.

It was just that it was already Thursday.

The new update was about to be released.

"…Hmm."

Poof─

The formality completed by acquiring telekinesis.

Now, I didn't have to lower my head to look at my smartphone.

I didn't have to put down the teacup.

Telekinesis was so convenient.

But the unnecessary thoughts were brief, and I spoke.

"There's nothing to watch out for."

First, it wasn't a major update like the Kingdom of Usra or Frost.

Just news of a new rift update.

Of course, the appropriate level for the rift seemed quite high.

'400 levels, just like that. Now.'

Of course, it was irrelevant to me.

Not a demon monster.

Not against my pride.

I wasn't in a position where I had to struggle for living expenses like in the old days.

Of course, that thought didn't last long.

Suddenly, the quest window flashed.

At the same time, a knock on the door.

…Well, that's how it is.

I should expect it from my fate.

I answered without hesitation.

"Would you like a cup of tea? Marcello, Chief Magician."