Chapter 105 – Exiting the Tower – Mantra Mine

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Mage Tower.

The only socializing place, the Floating Garden.

Skilled Mages were chatting.

“Has everyone filled out the application form?”

The desire to explore the unknown.

To the mages of the Mage Tower, the outside of the Mage Tower.

Reality was an object of curiosity.

Because there hadn’t even been a possibility of exiting the tower until now, they had been turning a blind eye to it but.

“Ah! Of course, I am talking about the tower exit application form.”

To think exiting the tower became possible.

They finally seemed to understand the reason why the Senior Mages had frequently vacated their seats lately.

They must have definitely been sharing meetings regarding exiting the tower. Answers poured out to the question.

“Of course I filled it out. Setting the period was the problem but…….”

“How about this, shall we just slightly share the periods just among ourselves?”

“……Can we do that?”

“Well, why not? At least we shouldn’t overlap among ourselves!”

“Indeed. We should do that, right? To increase our chances even a little?”

The problem was that filling out that application form was not easy from the start. However, writing the reason for exiting the tower was not difficult.

As for writing the reason, they had written it tiredly enough even within the Mage Tower.

The problem was the period.

“To think he rejects all applications that do not fit his schedule.”

That was right.

It meant that the period of exiting the tower had to fit the schedule of the person in charge.

The problem was that the person in charge did not announce what that schedule was.

“It’s not like we are guessing exam questions.”

While they were looking around at each other’s application forms.

Someone spat out a sigh.

“……Actually, I also had the thought of whether I really have to go out.”

“That is because of the person in charge, right?”

“Everyone thinks the same thing. Don’t you?”

Furthermore, who was the person in charge of exiting the tower?

It was the co-Chief Mage, Ho-yeol.

As if realizing they made a mistake, a Skilled Mage hurriedly continued.

“Of course, I do think he is amazing. How many mages must have filled out this tower exit application form? Even just looking through them must take tremendous effort. But……. no matter what, entering a rift alone with Chief Lee Ho-yeol is…….”

Because it was a highly burdensome thing.

They already knew of it well through rumors.

Ho-yeol’s infamy, that is.

Soon, gazes poured onto Cle.

“That’s right. Cle has experience, doesn’t she?”

“……Yes? Experience?”

“Why are you so surprised? Why, during the academic conference preliminary verification, you had a one-on-one conversation with Chief Lee Ho-yeol. I heard there was more than one mage who ran out of the Topaz Hall crying at that time……. How was it for you, Cle?”

……How was it?

Swish swish

Cle stirred her teacup round and round with a teaspoon.

And then opened her mouth with difficulty.

“……I was fine.”

“Pardon?!!”

“Of course, compared to what I worried about!”

Cle had made a resolution.

Even if other Skilled Mages avoid Ho-yeol, and shudder at just hearing his name! She, at least, must not show such an attitude.

Right, because Cle had not forgotten the words Ho-yeol said.

-“It is quite an interesting approach.”

-“There seems to be no leaps or problems in the logic and process, so what is needed is the result.”

-“Have confidence and devote yourself to the research.”

The cultivation method of elixir herbs.

Because it was none other than Ho-yeol who recognized the potential of the research.

At Cle’s ambiguous reaction, the Skilled Mages nodded.

They exchanged meaningful glances with each other.

“Ah, so that is why…….”

They pointed at the period on Cle’s application form.

“You set the date so tightly, Cle?”

“Yes? That is just because I thought it’s better to take the beating early…….”

“As expected, face is more important than personality to Cle, right?”

“……What? What do you mean by that, you?!”

“Aargh! Cle, are you pinching my side?!”

Cle, whose reactions were intense both when happy and sad, was fun to tease.

Even just for this fun.

It would be nice if Cle’s tower exit application was approved.

“Still, the tower exits of the Seniors would take priority over us, right?”

That wasn’t just the thought of the Skilled Mages.

The Senior Mages were also secretly thinking so.

Flame Magic Studies Senior Mage, Bensch William.

“Good. There are no Seniors whose schedule overlaps. Perfect.”

Bensch recalled the tower exit application he submitted.

The purpose simply.

The period as tight as possible.

Because he had a true purpose separately.

“Just how did he suppress that monster, the Fire Dragon.”

What Bensch was curious about was what happened inside the rift.

Even if Lord Senios sacrificed himself.

Ice magic and Flame magic were extreme opposites.

‘Surely, Chief Lee Ho-yeol must have played an active role as well.’

Bensch wanted to hear the story of that day from Ho-yeol.

Wasn’t he uncomfortable entering a rift alone with Ho-yeol?

When he had even accompanied Senior Matis, was there anything he couldn’t do?

“……Of course, I am worried but.”

The memory of accompanying Matis stealthily surfaces.

He didn’t say a single word, Senior Matis…….

However.

If it was to hear the behind-the-scenes story of that day, he had to endure it.

Of course, Bensch’s worry was merely a groundless fear.

Ssssk

Letters suddenly appearing on the parchment.

Checking it, Bensch’s eyes went wide.

“……R-Rejected? Me?!”

Because the tower exit application he submitted came back.

At the same time.

Bellier clicked her tongue once again.

“Senior Mage Bellier! My tower exit application passed!”

Cle definitely should have filled out her tower exit application on the same date as Bensch William……. To think Cle’s application passed while pushing his application aside.

Bellier recalled Marcelo’s words.

-“……Also, Chief Lee Ho-yeol added that the position of the tower exit applicant in the tower would not be considered in the judgment.”

To think those words were sincere.

Indeed, even Elder Mage Lord Senios formally requested permission for a tower exit from Chief Lee Ho-yeol and told us he received permission.

Bellier let out a smile.

“It went well at a timely moment. Cle.”

Anyway…….

With this, the competition rate for tower exits will become even fiercer regardless of being a Senior, Skilled, or Apprentice Mage in the future. In that sense, she felt she also needed to prepare in advance.

Bellier subtly continued her words.

“In order to pass those fastidious standards, how should I……. Wait a moment, Cle. Could you secretly tell only me how you filled out your tower exit application?”

*

I realize the weight of the Chief.

Just what the hell, why is there so much paperwork.

But I cannot grumble.

‘It’s all something I brought upon myself with my loose lips.’

All tower exits are conducted in accordance with my schedule.

In order to take responsibility for the words I spat out.

I handled the increased tasks of the Chief.

Of course, it’s not like I babbled for nothing.

Why, there is a give and take in everything.

I recalled the update logs.

‘A recommended level of a whopping 550.’

The new rifts updated together with Muon.

The recommended levels of those rifts were capable of matching [Predator’s Swamp].

Thinking back to what happened in [Predator’s Swamp]…….

‘If I hadn’t received the help of the three guilds at the end.’

Let alone sprouting the Seed of the World Tree.

It wouldn’t be strange if I had been trampled by monsters.

For me, who was merely level 377.

‘Without [Natural Enemy], soloing a level 550 rift is still too much…….’

It means it was still a burdensome recommended level.

However, I was no longer alone.

Right, because I had full authority over exiting the tower.

‘Nothing can be more reassuring than this……!’

That meant I could enter the rift together with mages of the Mage Tower.

Right, even since I first entered the Mage Tower.

Wasn’t I dreaming only of this day?

However, there is always a gap between dreams and reality.

If it were up to my greed.

I wanted to pass almost all tower exit applications.

And clear rifts together with numerous mages but.

In accordance with strict procedure.

I rejected numerous applications.

I put down one exceptionally half-hearted application.

“You still haven’t come to your senses. Senior Mage Bensch William.”

Writing ‘promotion of fellowship’ as your purpose, as if I would pass that! Right, there was only one tower exit application I permitted according to procedure for now.

[Cle Odia]

The purpose of the tower exit was gathering elixir herbs needed for research.

Just like when I gathered Pallid Mistletoe.

Elixir herbs could be gathered in a rift.

It was a sufficiently logical purpose.

Furthermore, I highly evaluated Cle’s ‘Elixir Herb Cultivation Method’.

The potential of that research, that is.

‘Actually, even one Skilled Mage is a reassuring ally.’

Thinking like that.

It rather feels like a relief?

Why, let’s consider if Bensch accompanied me to the rift.

‘……Wouldn’t there be no monsters left.’

The Senior Mages who cleared over ten rifts in an instant.

Wasn’t I the one who indirectly confirmed that combat power?

It’s definitely a relief.

I almost burnt even the crumbs, didn’t I?

This is why people need to live fairly and squarely according to procedure.

The self-praise was also brief.

Because entering the rift was tomorrow.

I opened a book.

‘Now that I have witnessed the realm.’

To me, to Granfel.

It was no different from having gotten a new goal.

Of course, always.

Rustle

I avidly read magic books like a daily routine.

Clack

Consumed elixir herbs brewed as tea.

But that the meaning contained in that action is different.

At least I, myself, know.

If until now it was merely a struggle not to sink.

[By the effect of the elixir herb ‘Red Moon Flower’, Intelligence increases by 1 point.]

From now on, it means it is a struggle to move forward.

.

.

.

[Mantra Mine – Mining Sector 1]

[Recommended Level : Lv.550]

[Collapse Progress : 1.8%]

“Wow. So this is a rift.”

Cle pulled her robe down deeply and let out an exclamation.

Actually, her exclamations hadn’t stopped since earlier.

Large buildings, people in unfamiliar attire, everything must be a sight seen for the first time by Cle.

But it’s too early to be surprised already.

‘Because the inside of a rift takes it one step further.’

A scenery where reality and the Arcana continent are mixed.

As soon as we entered the rift, Cle’s signs of flinching were evident.

“……It’s somewhat amazing.”

A scenery where a forest of buildings and a mine are mixed.

That scenery couldn’t possibly be intact.

Like stalactites sprouting buildings inside a large cave.

It’s my first time seeing such a bizarre rift as well……?

Seeing that [Natural Enemy] also didn’t activate.

It means demons didn’t necessarily want to touch it either.

Of course, naturally, I couldn’t express those inner thoughts.

I casually said.

“Mantra Mine. Do you know about the threatening elements that appear?”

“Ah! I’ve heard the name Mantra Mine. At first everyone thought it was an ordinary mine, but that it wasn’t, only up to there. So about the threatening elements, I don’t really…….”

“Familiarize yourself.”

I listed the threatening elements.

That is, the list of monsters appearing in [Mantra Mine – Mining Sector 1]. It was all thanks to grasping that information from the update logs.

Cle, who couldn’t know that fact, nodded with a serious expression.

“……All of them are fastidious threatening elements.”

It’s understandable she answered like that.

Because the monsters appearing in Mantra Mine were entirely of the [Ghost] attribute. To begin with, it was a mine abandoned because of that.

Why, because physical attacks didn’t work on [Ghost] attribute monsters.

‘In order to defeat them, magic or buffs are needed.’

However, it means there wasn’t worth mining in this mine while putting in that much effort. Well, it wasn’t important. As said, it could be sufficiently dealt with using magic.

‘More than that.’

I summoned a Nymph as purposed.

The summoning process I had familiarized myself with when forming the contract.

Soon, the Nymph revealed its figure from thin air.

“According to the contract, I answered your call.”

……Hup.

The sound of someone urgently covering their mouth was heard.

Because the fact that I contracted with a spirit was something only Marcelo knew about. It could be unexpected for Cle. But is there a reason to be that surprised?

‘Spirit Studies exists in the Mage Tower to begin with, right.’

However, making that thought pointless.

I also ended up flinching internally.

……What the.

The Nymph’s exterior had somehow become even more splendid. No, it wasn’t just the exterior that became splendid……. The energy of {Nature} it emitted is completely different from before, isn’t it.

Indeed, is it because it was influenced by my pride.

The Nymph did not hide anything.

That Nymph formally continued its words.

“Due to the influence of the World Tree, there was a slight change in me.”

……World Tree!

Right, I had grown the World Tree with the Nymph’s ability.

Even I, who sprouted the World Tree, received a reward for it. Then it’s natural that the Nymph, the person involved, also received that reward. Although I was slightly surprised, as expected, I didn’t show it and spoke.

“That is also a natural change.”

“Indeed, I knew you would guess it.”

No, I couldn’t guess it until I saw it.

Of course, because I am someone who cannot refute overestimation.

I asked the Nymph.

“Did you witness my arrangement?”

“Of course. There are many stories I must convey to you regarding that.”

“Is that so. Let us slowly hear that story first.”

The traces of the Goddess Order in the Arcana continent.

There were things I wanted to ask but.

Procedure exists in everything.

First, I received the report from the Nymph.

And I flinched.

……There’s such a huge incident happening in the Arcana continent?

.

.

.

To think Chief Lee Ho-yeol had contracted with a spirit.

More than that, to think summoning a spirit was possible in a rift.

To think the Chief knew that fact in advance.

Cle couldn’t even imagine it at all.

Because a spirit was a being that only an extreme minority even among mages could witness and contract with. Chief Lee Ho-yeol, an adventurer, summoning a spirit was something she had no choice but to be surprised about.

“……Hup!”

However, to the point of covering her mouth.

The reason Cle was surprised was something else.

Right, Cle was also a full-fledged Skilled Mage of the Mage Tower.

‘Even if it is a contracted spirit…….’

Naturally, she had witnessed a spirit before.

Not to mention the spirits of the Spirit Faction Skilled Mages.

Even Senior Mage Lord Peiyan Lot’s Fire Drake.

However, what on earth was that spirit?

‘The felt energy is different!’

She wasn’t talking about the energy being large or small.

Cle was a Healing Faction mage through and through.

Because she didn’t have deep knowledge in Spirit Studies, she couldn’t explain it well but.

‘How should I say this, a feeling like it’s on a completely different dimension from the spirits I’ve seen up until now……?’

Right, it felt refined and elegant.

As if that dignity was revealed in its exterior as well.

It was a flawless figure.

It was an even greater shock than when she first saw the Fire Drake.

Cle carefully predicted.

‘Could it be an upper spirit, or even higher than that?’

Shake shake

No matter what, it couldn’t be higher than an upper spirit, right?

Because Lord Peiyan’s Fire Drake was an upper spirit.

However, Cle’s prediction soon collapsed miserably.

Thanks to the conversation shared by Ho-yeol and the Nymph.

‘……W, World Tree?’

‘What is this arrangement again……?’

‘N, no! As if that wasn’t enough, dwarves?!’

How can they share such incredible stories.

Without changing a single expression?

As expected, it is certain that both of them are far more amazing than I thought!