Chapter 238 – It’s Familiar to Me
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Crystal Hall.
Ho-yeol left the access device alone and exited the Crystal Hall.
Nevertheless, the afterglow of shock did not fade easily.
Players whispered first.
“…He’s saying he’ll share a massive opportunity?”
“Even without using it first himself!”
“Damn it, what was this bastard thinking…?”
They realized it once again.
That Ho-yeol’s pride is so heavy that it’s hard to follow.
And that because it’s heavy, it also harbors many meanings.
Several players looked around.
“To be able to return to the Arcana Continent.”
“Mother, Father…”
“I just want to confirm that they are safe.”
Ho-yeol certainly said so.
-“No one can weigh the importance of that purpose.”
That’s right.
Who would dare evaluate the weight of those stories?
Now that they have entered the Mage Tower.
Even if they couldn’t return to the life before.
To them, the Arcana Continent was their hometown, and their blood relatives were there.
Adept of Recovery Magic, Belier, let out a small smile.
“You mean you will not overlook anything.”
Belier knew.
That Chief Lee Ho-yeol is not one to just skim through an application to leave the tower. There was always a valid reason and areas for improvement attached to a returned application.
Was it just the application to leave the tower?
The same went for the preliminary verification of Regular Academic Conferences.
Including Klee’s research on 『Methods to Cultivate Elixirs』.
Even the research of inexperienced adept mages.
Wasn’t Ho-yeol agonizing over it like his own research.
‘However, a burden much heavier than that. You’re saying you’ll bear it alone this time too.’
She wanted to share the burden immediately if she could…
Belier didn’t have the confidence.
Incomparably heavier than leaving the tower or preliminary verification.
The responsibilities following it were immense.
‘Sir…’
That was also the reason why Marcelo couldn’t raise his head easily.
Elder Mage, Yugweed spoke to Marcelo like that.
“Isn’t it amazing, Chief Marcelo? Honestly, if I were Chief Lee, I would have hidden the fact that I obtained such a thing for a while.”
“You are honest, Elder Yugweed.”
“Fufu. That’s because it’s scratching a scab, isn’t it?”
However, how was Ho-yeol?
Not only scratching that scab, but in the Mage Tower.
No, he openly revealed it to the world.
As if waiting, he pointed the arrow at himself.
“It is a vessel size I cannot fathom.”
“The same goes for me.”
“Meow.”
“……?”
A cat with its fur bristled.
The Tower Master sneaked between the two and mumbled.
The Tower Master had finally finished weighing things in his head.
‘In all aspects, you suit the position of Tower Master better than me.’
It was a decision that would freak out the party if they found out.
“By the way…”
Marcelo looked at the exit of the Crystal Hall that Ho-yeol had left through.
‘He definitely said he had no time.’
Where did the Sir head so urgently?
Since he went out that door, it meant he was still in the Mage Tower.
Marcelo stood up from his seat.
‘…I don’t think I can sit still.’
Ho-yeol and Marcelo were pushing for joint research on anomalies to return to the Arcana Continent.
However, if Ho-yeol’s words were true, there was no need to proceed with the research anymore.
‘I don’t know if I have the right to know.’
The unavoidable nature of a mage.
He felt his empty heart would only calm down if he conversed with Ho-yeol.
With Marcelo at the forefront, the mages left the Crystal Hall murmuring.
Among them, there were two people who kept their seats until the very end.
It was Banshee and Bangrit.
“Indeed, Chief Lee Ho-yeol has not abandoned me!”
It’s not that leaving the tower was trivial, but compared to returning to the Arcana Continent? Of course, returning to the Arcana Continent is a much more valuable opportunity, isn’t it!
“The rejections all this time were arrangements exactly for today!”
Bangrit’s gaze scanned the boasting Banshee.
‘…Where on earth does that confidence come from?’
For Bangrit, who rose from a commoner to a senior of the Mage Tower, gauging the atmosphere was like daily life. Thanks to that, he immediately caught on. The hidden meaning in the words saying he would bear it.
‘I think that process won’t be much different from the screening to leave the tower…’
Senior Banshee, who can’t even leave the tower.
There’s no way you could enter the Arcana Continent…?
The cruel truth filled up right under his chin.
Bangrit smiled awkwardly.
“Um haha. Wait for it, brother. Big brother is coming.”
…Yes, even if I don’t say it, you’ll realize it soon enough.
For the time being, rejoice to your heart’s content.
Senior Banshee.
*
End of the round-table conference.
The place I headed after leaving the Crystal Hall was the Garnet Hall.
There was only one reason to drop by the Garnet Hall.
‘I have to go, to the Arcana Continent.’
So I must borrow them, Magic Tools.
Because I could receive another reprimand from Granfel.
I slyly glanced at my level.
[Level: 680]
Considering I was smacked by Raymon Sean, it was a fairly decent reward. After entering the 600s, where should leveling up be easy to say.
Flutter
Now the jacket that fluttered every time I walked.
There’s only 20 levels left until I can wear it properly.
Even that alone is a significant reason to raise my level but.
‘Having a high level is helpful in broadening the choices.’
In the past, memories of visiting the Garnet Hall with a parachute spring up anew.
Back then, I was at best around level 100.
Because of that, the magic tools of the Mage Tower felt like pies in the sky.
Now I can pick and choose to my heart’s content.
“Ah, Chief Lee Ho-yeol…?”
The adept mage guarding the Garnet Hall flinched.
Having suddenly convened a round-table conference.
What brings me to the Garnet Hall, she must wonder.
I said nonchalantly.
“The round-table conference is over.”
“Ah, I see! But, what brings you to the Garnet Hall…?”
“I wish to borrow magic tools using the Chief’s authority.”
“Ah, I see! Are there any magic tools you’re looking for!”
Actually, fundamentally, mages of the Mage Tower do not rely on magic tools.
Why, because the nature of the mages born with the talent to enter the Mage Tower was like that.
Whether it’s research, truth, or whatever, they constantly pursue and try to improve themselves.
Because of that, they didn’t use magic tools that merely amplified their manifestation power unless they had a ‘special purpose’.
So.
“I need magic tools related to manifestation power.”
“…!”
It’s natural to be surprised by my words.
Because that was equivalent to saying I had a special purpose.
Of course, there was no way the adept mage would pry into my purpose.
“I- In that case, this way…”
I entered the Garnet Hall following the guidance.
‘Oho.’
A few magic tools I saw during my parachute days caught my eye.
How unfair must I have felt about my low level.
I can distinctly remember their names.
That magic tool that looks like a necklace, it’s [Frozen Knowledge], right?
[Frozen Knowledge]
[Grade: Unique]
[Restriction: Lv. 550]
[Effect: When using ice magic, recovers 50% of the consumed mana.]
[Description: A keepsake of a great ice mage. The magical knowledge he achieved in his lifetime is frozen and preserved precisely in the necklace.]
Looking at it again, it’s a magic tool with an effect any ice mage would drool over.
Recovery of 50% of consumed mana?
Honestly, imagine if this effect was attached to a Pure Mana-related magic tool.
‘It probably would be Epic grade, wouldn’t it?’
I didn’t know back then when my insight was narrow, but I know now.
The reason why an item with such an effect is Unique grade and doesn’t have a very high level restriction. It was because ice magic was one of the non-mainstream magics.
‘Actually, there isn’t really a strong point.’
Its destructive power in exceptional situations was outstanding, but its biggest flaw was its clear weakness. The problem above all was its fatal type disadvantage against flame magic, one of the mainstream magics.
‘To climb to the position of Elder Mage with such ice magic.’
Thinking about it again, he was an amazing person, Seninos.
And wasn’t I the one acknowledged by such Seninos?
I’m not the me from the parachute days who only looked plausible on the outside.
Who only managed to borrow a single [Hexagram Brooch] after looking around.
That Lee Ho-yeol is no more.
I grasped [Frozen Knowledge] full of confidence.
“!”
…Did I pick it up too confidently?
The adept mage’s pupils twitched.
But it’s too early to be surprised.
I said shamelessly.
“I shall select the next magic tool to borrow.”
Not only am I going to enter the Arcana Continent.
I was the me who had to face the dying Elder Dragon, Eunaxus.
Maybe I might have to face the enemy that drove the great Elder Dragon to its death. But, could making full preparations end with just one magic tool?
‘…It’s going to be very dangly.’
Actually, even right now.
From the necklace to the brooch and the fluttering jacket, it was excessively flashy.
But if there’s a silver lining in misfortune, it’s that there are no eyes watching in the Arcana Continent. So let’s bear the overly flashy outfit just a little bit, Ho-yeol.
“Not bad.”
“I will borrow this.”
“Same.”
In the Garnet Hall, only my voice echoed for a while…
.
.
.
The practical person in charge of the Garnet Hall is the Senior of Enchantment Magic, Kiko Armin.
Everything that happens in the Garnet Hall is reported to her.
Today’s incident is no exception.
“…What did you say, Laran?”
The adept mage guarding the Garnet Hall, Laran.
She carefully repeated her words.
As clearly as possible.
“Chief Lee Ho-yeol has borrowed a total of twelve magic tools…?”
Twelve.
It is certainly a lot, but she wasn’t surprised by the quantity.
Above all, a Chief Mage had the authority to freely borrow magic tools.
However, the types of magic tools borrowed were the problem.
Kiko looked at the parchment pulling her hair.
“Frozen Knowledge, Seahorse’s Heart, Dice of Destiny…?!”
All twelve magic tools.
Were ‘decisive battle’ magic tools that amplified manifestation power.
Next, Kiko read the following lines.
Only then could she realize.
The reason why Laran had such a distressed expression.
“…Senior Mage Kiko!”
“Hasty assumptions are not good, Laran.”
“That may be true, but…!”
Unlike other magic tools, decisive battle magic tools had to specify their loan period. If a mage of the Mage Tower were to wield a decisive battle magic tool indefinitely, no one could know what result it would bring.
Ho-yeol was no exception to the Mage Tower’s discipline.
Laran tearfully continued her words.
“The loan period Chief Lee Ho-yeol wrote is…!!”
I’m looking at it even if you don’t say it.
Kiko refocused her eyes and looked at the parchment again.
There, in Ho-yeol’s handwriting, it was written calmly.
──────
Loan Period: Until the moment of death.
──────
.
.
.
…No, it’s not like that’s wrong either.
Did he really have to write it so bluntly.
Just until returning from the Arcana Continent.
Wouldn’t it be nice to write it kindly?
Until the moment of death!
The reason I scrawled that in the loan period was simple.
Because I had the effect of the title, [The Last Adventurer].
First, I check the reassuring effect once again.
[The Last Adventurer: You do not die in the Arcana Continent. Upon death, you return to reality immediately and cannot access the Arcana Continent for a certain amount of time. – Cooldown: 24 Hours]
In short, a Granfel-esque expression.
In the Arcana Continent, which is like hell.
Until the moment of death.
It was a vow to never bow or yield.
Of course, the adept mage who checked it was certainly shocked.
A guy with no shame trying to get his money’s worth out of the Mage Tower’s magic tools until he dies.
She definitely thought I was that kind of guy…!
‘If I were genuinely being greedy and getting cursed at, I’d understand.’
Because of integrity and innocence.
While I wasn’t even able to be greedy properly. To be treated as a shameless guy who borrowed a whopping twelve magic tools of the Mage Tower until he dies.
‘It’s incredibly unfair. Really.’
…However, to clear up the misunderstanding.
There are simply too many stories to lay out.
The only thing that soothes my unfair heart is tea time after all.
“Mmm.”
So don’t look displeased that it’s not green tea, Granfel.
They say bitter medicine is good for the body.
Above all, what I needed right now was.
Not the caffeine of green tea, but elixir doping.
[Health regeneration increases slightly for 6 hours.]
[Mana regeneration increases slightly for 1 hour.]
[Stamina regeneration increases slightly for 12 hours.]…
…Is it because Elcidor, an elf, cultivated them?
Or is it because they’re organic elixirs?
The effects aren’t bad.
‘Effects like slight increases stack up and create a big difference.’
Then, shall I slowly prepare to cross over?
Clack
I put down my teacup and stood up.
What I felt when I opened the anomaly portal leading to Arcana?
That I needed a space that could withstand the massive magic power energy generated during the manifestation process. The space suitable for that purpose was precisely the top floor of the Mage Tower.
I opened the door wide to head to the top floor but…
You startled me!
What are you all doing in front of my office door?
And what are those serious expressions?
…Wait a minute, then did you also hear my green tea complaints?!