Chapter 222 – Is an Explanation Necessary?

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Lick-

He licked the cotton ball with his tongue.

The Tower Master thought while looking down at the Crystal Hall.

To think he would change the Round Table Conference like this.

Is this what a rolling stone can come up with.

“Meoow-”

It was a cry that contained a sense of satisfaction.

Why, even if putting everything else aside.

It’s finally living up to its name.

A conference taking place in the circular structured Crystal Hall.

It meant it was truly befitting of a Round Table Conference.

“A cat?”

“Could someone have brought it by any chance?”

“No! It was sitting there from the moment we entered.”

“My, how cute. What’s your name?”

“Klet, is this the time to be distracted by a cat?”

Cute when referring to him?

They are Adept and Skilled Mages who couldn’t even see through a transformation magic inferior to Polymorph. Calling him cute was rather something he should be saying to the fledglings.

“Meow.”

Still, the touch scratching his chin wasn’t too bad.

In the end, the Tower Master settled on the lap of an Adept Mage player and watched the Round Table Conference.

It was surprising enough that mages of all ranks had gathered in one place, but to think adventurers were mixed in as well.

It was something unimaginable in the past.

‘That appearance is the same too.’

The sight of seniors conversing closely with each other.

The Tower Master purred and thought.

Chief Lee Ho-yeol, no matter how I look at it, you are better than me.

Then suddenly, he wrinkled his nose, sniffling.

‘You must be busy.’

The smell of his disciple, Jesse, did not waft over.

Of course, even if Jesse had participated in the Round Table Conference.

He had no intention of approaching her first though.

Because wasn’t he lacking face.

‘An incompetent master only caused trouble, you see.’

Jesse, if it was you.

You definitively would have blamed yourself, feeling that such a situation happened because of you.

Everything was due to my shortcomings, yet.

However, the Tower Master did not worry about Jesse.

‘It’s a relief you found a master better than me.’

Yes, Chief Lee Ho-yeol.

Because he would be a much better master than himself.

Thinking of Jesse, he remembered the times he was together with her.

What entered such Tower Master’s eyes was none other than a smartphone.

Tap, tap-

The Tower Master nudged the player’s hand with his front paw.

“What is it?”

“Meow.”

“You want me to play with you? Not right now.”

Pretending to concentrate on the conference when they were already distracted anyway.

‘I’ve already memorized your face, Adept Mage.’

If you don’t show me the smartphone screen, I shall strictly punish you with the authority of the Tower Master. Did the Tower Master’s petty threat get delivered? The player shoved the smartphone towards the Tower Master.

“Here, will you at least watch this?”

What appeared on the screen was a NetTube video.

Its title was ‘Videos Cats Like’.

It was a video where fish in a fish tank moved restlessly.

The Tower Master thought.

‘Indeed, how interesting.’

…No, wait, not this.

‘Now then, shall I check the news of the world?’

The Tower Master had shared Jesse’s senses inside the pointed hat.

Having even mastered knowledge regarding the [System], which could be called the exclusive property of players, operating a smartphone was nothing. Even if he had only seen it over her shoulder, he was familiar with it.

Press-

The Tower Master operated the smartphone with his paw.

The screen that moved following his cotton ball.

Meanwhile, the Tower Master’s front paw stopped.

A cluster of shooting stars embroidered in the sky.

‘Meteor Strike.’

There was no distortion in the memories carved into his physical body.

‘I really did manifest it.’

An extreme high-level magic.

What could manifest Meteor Strike at the current point was.

Exclusively his own body alone.

Press-

The Tower Master stamped his paw on that video.

And soon.

“Mya.”

He lamented.

He had learned the reason his body ended up in this state.

To manifest such an extreme high-level magic 10 times consecutively.

On top of magic power exhaustion.

My body, you had run wild to the point where reaching death wouldn’t have been strange.

‘What felt so unfair, my body.’

After a brief trivial meow, a doubt arose.

‘So how did Chief Lee Ho-yeol block that?’

The Tower Master reviewed all his magical knowledge.

Even so, no suitable solution came to mind.

Even if one manifested a magic capable of crashing Meteor Strike down.

‘The debris would pour down from the sky.’

That was exactly why Meteor Strike was called an extreme high-level magic and a magic that brought ruin.

Are you saying the answer is contained in this video. The Tower Master glared at the screen with extreme concentration.

“What’s this? The video skipped? Let me play it again…”

“Hiss!”

“Gosh you startled me! Okay. I won’t touch it.”

Even with his fur standing on end, he watched the entire story of that day.

And he realized.

“…!”

The fact that the Meteor Strike had returned against the sky.

The Tower Master could not hide his astonishment.

Just what kind of extreme-extreme-extreme high-level magic is this, Chief Lee Ho-yeol…?

*

Mage Tower.

Marcelo’s office.

“As expected, wouldn’t it have been better for me to visit?”

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

“Since you say so, it is a relief.”

Clank-

I looked at the teacup Marcelo put down.

A tea bag submerged in the teacup.

Needless to say, it was green tea.

‘Various thoughts arise.’

Should I be thankful that he considers my preference even without me saying anything?

Or how obsessed he must be with green tea.

Should I be embarrassed by the fact that I’m being served tea bag green tea even in the Mage Tower?

‘…First, let’s wet my throat.’

Because what I needed at this moment was mental stability.

“The scent is good.”

I put down the teacup and looked at Marcelo’s desk.

There was a cat there, the Tower Master.

The Tower Master speaks slyly.

“I had planned to visit our next Tower Master myself.”

What are you talking about, seriously!

I came running because my heart sank precisely due to that ‘next Tower Master’ nonsense.

Besides, where are you going to visit.

Do you think I borrowed Marcelo’s office for nothing?

“It’s regrettable, but I will decline such kindness.”

There was no big reason why I, Lee Ho-yeol, didn’t like cats. However, there was a specific reason why Granfel didn’t like cats.

That was right.

His attire.

Granfel is someone who was extremely obsessed even with the angle of his brooch.

But how could he tolerate cat fur?

Whether he knew my restless inner thoughts or not.

Marcelo opens his mouth with a highly flushed expression.

“Anyway, for Sir Ho-yeol to be the next Tower Master. I am naturally in favor of it, but… By any chance, for what reason is this? From now on, regarding the Tower Master’s decisions, I must definitely hear the reasons for them.”

…Asking for the reason is good but.

Without even asking for my opinion, the person concerned.

Could you please not agree to the Tower Master’s arbitrary decision from the start, Marcelo.

‘Rather than that, let’s hear the reason.’

To state the obvious.

I’d rather die than take on the Tower Master’s seat.

The weight of a Chief Mage.

Even just the weight of the Chief Mage seat I divided with Marcelo felt heavy enough that I felt I would sink. Moreover, is Granfel’s meddlesomeness just an ordinary meddlesomeness?

‘If I shoulder the weight of the Tower Master, I’ll really die.’

Even putting that aside.

Because that cat was annoying, I had no intention of taking on the Tower Master’s seat. Coming back after playing hooky and immediately handing over a letter of resignation. What on earth do you think social life is?

Of course, my inner thoughts were not revealed outwardly.

Thanks to that, the Tower Master loosely began speaking.

“I realized it during the Round Table Conference. Chief Lee Ho-yeol, exactly how you blocked the Meteor Strike my body manifested.”

He realized it during the Round Table Conference?

How?

Just as I was concentrating because a doubt arose.

“A smartphone. Through the adventurers’ magic tool, you see.”

Ah, so it was that.

No wonder.

He didn’t show any intention of getting down from the player’s lap.

Marcelo added his words.

“Ah, if it is that, I know it as well. Sir Ho-yeol, you clearly said that with just that one thing, you could summon whatever item you wanted right to your front door just by lifting a finger.”

Me?

When?

Anyway, this blabbermouth of mine!

Startled, I fumbled through my memories…

‘Ah, rocket delivery.’

It was definitely when I demanded rocket delivery to the Mage Tower.

That this too was Qi.

While rationalizing it, I obtained access permission for the delivery drivers to the Mage Tower.

“That is correct.”

Thanks to that, I replied shamelessly as usual.

Then for now, I kept silent.

If I carelessly moved my mouth from now on.

Because it was a situation where I might really end up taking on the Tower Master’s seat.

‘Even if called by your superior, you can survive if you just keep your wits about you.’

I listened even more attentively to the Tower Master’s ensuing words.

“Chief Lee Ho-yeol, I will ask you straightforwardly.”

The fortunate thing was.

No matter how much weight he tried to put on with a cat’s body, no sense of intimidation could be felt. Even so, the heavily soaring tail seemed to tell he was more than serious.

“Just what on earth was it? That magic.”

“Excuse me for interrupting, but what is that magic?”

At Marcelo’s cautious words, the Tower Master replied.

“How were you able to return the Meteor Strike my body manifested back to the sky? As if no magic had been manifested at all. In its original state as it was. Even if it is Qi, there must be a foundational magic.”

He continued with an even more serious voice.

“Shamefully, even myself as the Tower Master could not see through what your magic was. Yes, that is exactly why I’m trying to step down from the seat of Tower Master. Chief Lee Ho-yeol, it’s clear your magical ability has far surpassed mine.”

…Wait a minute, that was the reason?

As expected, no matter how I look at it, it’s certain you’re trying to pass it onto me.

I looked at Marcelo, wondering if he would say a single word for me from my perspective.

But what’s with your expression, Chief Marcelo?

“It is Reversal Magic.”

“Oho, Reversal Magic. So you knew about it, Marcelo?”

“That is correct. Because I harbored a doubt as well.”

Please do not converse seriously with the Tower Master, Marcelo.

I was someone who admitted what needed to be admitted, but.

I had to correct misunderstandings properly.

‘Would it be different if it were Qi.’

Reversal Magic wasn’t that great of a magic.

Exploration -> Interference -> Manifestation.

Simply manifesting the structure of the magic in reverse.

Because that was what Reversal Magic was.

“…Yes?”

Marcelo asked back with a blank expression.

‘Is it because the curse of the limited lifespan disappeared.’

Lately, it feels like I’m seeing various expressions from Marcelo…

I wondered if it was hard to understand, so I said it again.

This time, I kindly added an analogy as well.

“Exploring the manifested magic. As if untying a tied knot in order. If you perform the interference process in reverse and manifest it, that exactly is Reversal Magic.”

I explained it, but it was truly clear.

Yes, the series of steps to untie a tied knot.

Because that was the effort required by Reversal Magic.

Of course, interfering with someone else’s magic was absolutely not an easy task for me either. Especially interfering with Meteor Strike: if I hadn’t formed a Circle, I wouldn’t have even been able to attempt it, right?

However, making my kind explanation pale in comparison.

The Tower Master let out a snort.

“Is that really all, Chief Lee Ho-yeol?”

“That is correct.”

I’m telling you it is.

What, did you think there was something amazing?

So you’re using Reversal Magic as an excuse.

Please give up on the idea of vaguely passing over the Tower Master’s seat.

“Hahaha. Sir, you really are.”

If only the Tower Master had snorted, I would have lightly ignored it.

But even Marcelo was laughing.

Suddenly, I felt a sense of unease.

‘…Did I make a slip of the tongue by any chance.’

No, how could that be.

I merely said what was there!

To me, who raised my head confidently as always, the Tower Master spoke.

“So that was it. I finally understand now. The interference process of Meteor Strike just looked like a simple knot to you. That’s why you were able to manifest it in reverse order.”

“That is right.”

It seemed like we could finally communicate, but…

Somehow it wasn’t that kind of atmosphere.

Because I had some tact as well, I realized it around then.

…By any chance, was untying that knot really something grand and amazing?

The Tower Master and Marcelo.

The magical talents of the two were at a level counted among the best even in the Mage Tower.

So I naturally thought it was possible.

If you ask why.

Because even I could do it just by doing it!

But, it seemed I was gravely mistaken.

“Do you know, Sir? Mediocre talents like myself struggle quite a lot even in standard interference processes. The series of steps you described as a knot, Sir, is considered an incomparably complex, difficult problem to solve.”

This time, the Tower Master chimed in on Marcelo’s words.

“But, to not only grasp that interference process in reverse but also reach the point of manifestation? It is truly a brilliant talent, Chief Lee Ho-yeol.”

It seemed Reversal Magic was.

More than just a magic that could be eaten raw.

It seemed much more amazing!

By the way.

“Thank you.”

Don’t act stuck up in this kind of atmosphere, Granfel.

If you act like this, what are you going to do if they really pass the Tower Master’s seat to me.

Of course, you would do well.

Because you would certainly turn the pouring overestimations into reality.

But the one suffering because of it is me!

“Before being the Tower Master, as a mage, this is a matter I cannot simply overlook.”

The Tower Master continues his words meaningfully.

“I am the same, Sir.”

Marcelo adds weight to it.

“Therefore, as the Tower Master, I shall formally suggest it to you.”

…No, wait a minute.

It’s definitely a compliment, but I can’t just be happy about it.

Along with the swishing of the Tower Master’s tail.

My vision flashed.

Hey, who told you to thrust a quest at me just as you please?!