Chapter 24 – I Will Raise an Objection (2)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Marcelo doubted his own ears.

‘Unnecessary elements?’

The real power of the Mage Tower, Chief Mage.

That position was neither easy to reach.

Nor a position easy to keep.

Abilities, of course.

In order to keep the position of Chief.

It meant having to continuously show results.

‘You’re saying there’s a problem with the exploration process?’

Naturally.

Marcelo possessed immense pride in his position as Chief Mage.

But what?

There are unnecessary elements in the exploration process?

‘Furthermore, an adventurer?’

Moreover, the one who pointed that out was an adventurer.

Even the Senior Mages who covet the position of Chief keep their mouths shut.

An adventurer ignorant about magic.

How could he raise such an objection?

Crystal Hall.

“Something happened.”

“With Marcelo’s personality, he definitely won’t stay still.”

“By the way, who in the world is that man? It’s a face I’m seeing for the first time?”

It was natural for the audience to murmur.

Because it was as good as suddenly throwing cold water on an excellent presentation.

Marcelo would surely explode soon.

Turning into a poisonous snake spewing vitriol regardless of whether one was a Senior or Adept Mage.

“Could I hear the reason why you thought so?”

Wait, what kind of answer is that?

The audience was agitated.

They thought it was nonsense.

They thought he was just finding fault needlessly.

They had thought Marcelo would explode without fail.

For him to show that kind of reaction means.

“Could it be that it was a question that actually had a point?”

Suddenly, a voice heard quietly.

Marcelo answered inwardly.

‘I have no choice but to admit it. Unnecessary elements exist.’

That was due to the sense of disparity.

Science, a completely different concept from magic.

He fused those two concepts and manifested a new magic.

That process was severely inefficient.

Since even Marcelo had spent several months hanging on just to manifest this trivial sphere of flame.

In fact, even now as he asked back, Marcelo couldn’t accept it.

‘That is an unavoidable limit, is what I mean.’

However, even if it was Marcelo with his soaring pride.

He was always a Mage of the Mage Tower.

Being pointed out at a conference?

Rather than that kind of shame.

Magic, the exploration of its essence was the top priority.

That’s why he asked the man.

Marcelo’s question.

At that, the audience’s gaze focused on the man.

Players who had been watching quietly whispered.

“Hey hey, wait, isn’t that Lee Ho-yeol?”

“You only noticed now? Would there be another silver-haired concept addict like that?”

“See? I told you he belongs to our department. But what Alchemist, my foot. Just looking at him, nobility oozes from his body just like our Mage class.”

“Hey, let’s keep some manners during the conference.”

Manners.

And in front of Ho-yeol at that.

At that sound, the Players quickly shut their mouths.

Of course, Jesse had her back straight, ignoring the words of the pointed hat who had been talking to her since earlier.

It was a very polite posture, even gathering both hands on her belly button.

Pouring attention.

“Wow man. Even stage fright that didn’t exist would develop.”

“If it were me, I would’ve stuttered. Really.”

“I would’ve just bitten my tongue.”

Furthermore, those sending unkind gazes were all amazing Mages of the Mage Tower.

It’s natural to feel intimidated, but.

Not a hint of tension could be found in Ho-yeol.

Ho-yeol was still seated on the crystal chair.

There is no change in that upright posture either.

Such Ho-yeol answered.

“I too experienced that disparity. Chief Mage Marcelo.”

Experienced it?

No, before that, the fact that he felt disparity.

How did he notice?

A flustered Marcelo.

Soon, words followed that seemed to comfort him.

“But it’s fine.”

“?”

Whoosh-

Soon, flames bloomed from Ho-yeol’s palm.

That flame rotated and turned into a sphere of flame.

Looking exactly identical to Marcelo’s.

“!!!”

At that sight, the Crystal Hall fell into shock.

Of course, the person involved, Ho-yeol, calmly finished his words.

“Using centrifugal force in the interference process. The process was immature, but the result is not bad. It was an excellent presentation. Chief Mage Marcelo.”

*

Whoosh-

A sphere of flame rotating above my palm.

I swallowed a gasp.

It could be utilized like this too.

Ignition, which I had simply been reluctant to use due to its poor magic power efficiency.

However, adding science at an elementary school level called centrifugal force tremendously increased its magic power efficiency.

As you can see, I could maintain the ignition for a long time even with a small amount of magic power!

‘As expected, it’s a good thing I came.’

It wasn’t just Chief Mage Marcelo’s sphere of flame.

The magic presented at the conference were all amazing.

Of course, there were plenty of spells at a level I couldn’t manifest with my pathetic magic power, but.

‘I’ve kept them all in my head anyway.’

I felt certain that if only my magic power could support it, I could manifest them immediately.

In that sense.

At the very end, I couldn’t help but offer high praise.

“It was an excellent presentation.”

Most of all, I felt camaraderie from Marcelo.

I’ve also suffered quite a bit due to the sense of disparity.

Like science and magic.

Two completely different concepts.

To transform a [Skill] into ?Magic?.

The memory of staying up all night for several days is still vivid.

Yeah, no matter how amazing a Chief Mage of the Mage Tower is, he must have suffered for a few days, right?

I could tell just by looking at that emaciated face.

“Now, we will take a short break and resume the conference!”

Is it break time already.

I was still looking at the sphere of flame on my palm.

‘Would this magic power efficiency be maintained even when manifested larger?’

Then wouldn’t I not have to fight looking quite as pathetic.

I was just having such thoughts.

Someone approached me.

A skeleton.

No, it was Chief Mage Marcelo.

‘What.’

I flinched inwardly.

Because I had been secretly mindful of it.

After all, it looked like I had pointed out his research results.

And at a grand event called the regular conference at that.

“Do you have business with me. Chief Mage Marcelo?”

Of course, even if I want to show it, I can’t.

This body.

What can I do about the mouth looking this arrogant?

However, Marcelo’s subsequent words were unexpected.

“Adventurer, Mr. Lee Ho-yeol.”

Marcelo called me with formality.

Then he politely requested.

“Could you join me in my research?”

That moment, my vision blinked.

[Quest: Marcelo’s Research]

The Mage Tower, Chief Mage Marcelo.

For him to reach magic that has advanced to another dimension.

He wishes to be with you.

-Accept Marcelo’s proposal. (In Progress)

Not just magic but even a quest?

I thought once again.

That it truly was a good thing I attended the conference.

*

Yusra Islands.

In the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Clear sky.

Blue sea.

Even an appropriately gentle breeze.

Just that alone makes my heart flutter like I came to a vacation spot.

“Unni, doesn’t it somewhat feel like the Arcana days?”

“Back then when it was full of dreams and hopes. I remember~”

“If I knew it’s be like this, I would’ve brought a bikini.”

An island in legend.

The scenery of the Yusra Islands was also truly legendary.

Did they say everything, every single thing in the Yusra Islands couldn’t be compared to worldly things?

Indeed, starting from its natural landscape, it was more beautiful than most vacation spots.

“Bikini, my ass. It’s distracting. Shut up.”

Of course, a Berserker who only knows fighting.

Expecting such sentiments from Leonie was unreasonable, but.

On the radiantly shining sandy beach.

Leonie rested her weight on one leg and looked askance at the portal.

“There’s so fucking many. For real.”

Players?

It’s natural they would flock over.

What kind of place is the Yusra Islands?

In the past, since Arcana was merely a game, it was a treasure island everyone searched for.

We won’t know the truth of it until we open it up, but.

It wasn’t strange for this many guilds and Players to gather just out of anticipation.

“Yes, I am currently at the Yusra Islands.”

Well, reporters there to film such Yusra Islands and the Players were also a given.

“I didn’t expect that.”

But to think even NPCs would flock over.

‘No, should I call them Arcaneans now?’

Anyway, even those summoned from Arcana flocked to the Yusra Islands.

It seems they’re interested in treasure even if they have no interest in monsters or Rifts.

“Ah, my head hurts.”

Another truckload of competitors was added!

Leonie’s head throbbed.

Even with a rough look around, amazing NPCs had made an appearance.

“Lionheart Knights. The Shadow Mercenaries. Oh? Explorer’s League too? Everyone just goes crazy if it’s treasure, huh.”

If there was a silver lining in misfortune.

It was that the Mages of the Mage Tower were consistent this time as well.

What kind of group is the Mage Tower?

A group where the martial prowess of each individual Mage surpasses imagination.

In the past, there was even a saying that if the Mage Tower moved, Arcana’s order would change.

There was even a joke that the Mages of the Mage Tower focusing solely on research.

Was to maintain balance.

“Phew-”

Furthermore, one couldn’t leave out the monster who was a match for a hundred.

Above all, there was a high probability that Skal would reveal himself in Yusra Islands this time.

Rank 1, Skal.

His nonsensical strength.

Leonie knew it well as a fellow Ranker.

‘Ah, add one more on top of Skal.’

Up to Lee Ho-yeol.

It’s really bleak.

Leonie let out another sigh.

“Still gotta salvage something.”

Yes, she wouldn’t be the only one worrying about the competition.

Around the portal.

You could tell by looking at the subtle currents flowing between Players and guilds.

That they were mutually keeping each other in check.

I can’t fall behind.

“Unni, why are you glaring like that?”

“Because those bastards are glaring at us in a sketchy way.”

“Couldn’t they just be looking because you’re cute, Unni?”

“Cute my ass.”

It was the moment Leonie, whose eyes were already glaring sideways, raised them even more.

Bzzzt-

On her pure white wrist.

Her smartwatch vibrated.

Leonie connected the call.

“Yeah. Is the conference already over? Coming straight here?”

Guild ranking.

Rank 20, rising one rank from 21st.

It wasn’t strange for the Berserker Guild to have a guild member invited to the Mage Tower regular conference.

That was right.

What was strange was the words the guild member was relaying.

“What? Lee Ho-yeol told off the Chief Mage?!”

-Ah, Unni! Really, refine your language a bit! He didn’t tell him off, he p-o-i-n-t-e-d i-t o-u-t.

“It’s the same thing, dammit. So he got crushed? Got cussed out?”

Right, no matter how great you are.

You have to look at who you’re dealing with before showing off.

To act up against the Mage Tower, and the Chief Mage at that.

Leonie held back a giggle.

“I knew it from the time he acted petty over food. Me.”

She holds quite a grudge, this unni.

The guild members clicked their tongues for a moment.

Leonie was horrified.

“Wh-what?! He admitted it? That Mage Tower Chief Mage did?”

Those arrogant bastards accepted the critique?

It was an entirely unimaginable matter.

But the surprising things weren’t over yet.

“As if that wasn’t enough, he even received a q-quest?”

That moment, Leonie ended up imagining it.

A monster.

That monster, with the Mage Tower on his back.

The terrible imagination of him appearing in the Yusra Islands!

Tremble-

Leonie felt a chill.

This was no time to be like this!

She hastily hung up the call and spoke.

“We’re going in fast and finishing it quick. Everyone get ready!”

And news of such Ho-yeol.

Was not only delivered to Leonie.

“Yeah. I’m listening.”

“Lee Ho-yeol?”

“He was a Mage as expected, that bastard.”

Guild members who had also attended the regular conference.

The expressions of those who received breaking news from them began to change moment by moment.

“What? He gets a quest from the Mage Tower?”

“Isn’t it a misunderstanding? Is it reliable information!”

“Bowing their heads right in front of him? Does that even make sense?”

“Hyung. What do we do?”

Seoul’s Lee Ho-yeol.

He was in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Completely flipping the atmosphere of Yusra Islands upside down.

*

Naturally, I accepted Marcelo’s request.

[You have fulfilled the conditions.]

[Rewards will be distributed.]

I don’t know what it is, but it was a quest.

A quest where you say others couldn’t do it even if they wanted to.

And a chained quest at that!

Furthermore, I thought the rewards would be useful if it was a quest from the Mage Tower.

Because, you know, it would be a gain even if I could just get a single item related to magic power regeneration.

‘By the way.’

Where am I being dragged to right now?

‘And where are the rewards?’

I followed Marcelo and headed to the upper floors of the Mage Tower.

Starting from the stairs, it was extraordinary.

Float-

When I stepped into the empty air, marble floating there would support my foot.

Is this an amusement park ride or what.

Wow man, if it were the old me, I wouldn’t have been able to walk a single step.

Seriously.

“Thank you once again for your cooperation.”

A wooden door also floating in the air.

In front of that antique door.

Marcelo continued speaking to me.

“This is the laboratory that Adventurer Mr. Lee Ho-yeol will use.”

Don’t tell me, is this laboratory the first reward of the quest?

Marcelo added to such me.

“Please tell me whatever you need for the research.”

It was truly exceptional treatment.

I dare to presume.

Wouldn’t I be the first Player to be assigned a laboratory in the Mage Tower.

But calmly.

I was considering that excessive hospitality utterly natural.

I answered.

“Then I will request the necessary items right now.”

On the desk.

I scribbled a pen on the parchment.

——

1. Magic tool related to magic power regeneration.

——

Very confidently.