Chapter 39 – Performance Test (2)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Twenty Chief Mages of the Mage Tower.

They are Mages representing each school of magic.

Naturally, their relationship with each other was not very good.

Weren’t they already Mages with strong egos?

That alone was enough reason but.

The Chief Mages competed for the position of Senior Mage.

Senior Mage of the Mage Tower.

That was a position only the Mage who reached the apex in one generation could occupy.

In that sense, the current generation’s Chief Mages were on fairly good terms.

Everything was thanks to the public enemy, Senior Mage Marcelo.

“Tsk. I knew he would cause an accident someday.”

“He’s always holed up in a lab, so his senses have dulled.”

“Wasn’t it an impossible matter in the first place?”

Crystal Hall.

Twenty Chief Mages were gathered in the space where the regular academic conference had been held.

The reason they were chatting while hiding their inner thoughts was simple.

“A joint research with an adventurer. What is this.”

Marcelo’s decision.

To take issue with that misjudgment.

To drag Marcelo down from the position of Senior and make that seat vacant.

The possibility of it being realized was overflowing.

Above all, an adventurer.

“Huhu. I guess he really had nowhere to lean on?”

The days when Arcana was nothing but a game.

In other words, before the worldview interference occurred.

Adventurers were unknown existences.

Because they possessed the authority of immortality, coming back to life even if they died.

However, here in the world of adventurers, they no longer had the ability of immortality.

Even the one and only possibility had disappeared.

“Even if such an incident happened at the regular academic conference. Doesn’t that mean we still don’t know the truth?”

“That’s right. Maybe his cloud-grasping research just happened to accidentally stick to a flailing adventurer!”

“Above all, it’s something absolutely unbelievable. That a mere adventurer understands magic.”

Chief Mage of the Healing School, Bellier Yusia.

She was quietly keeping her mouth shut.

Crystal Hall.

Not a single breeze blew in that special space but.

Tremble

For some reason.

Her drooping light green curly hair was trembling finely.

Because Bellier was barely holding back laughter that was about to burst out.

‘Ah, so funny. Really, do they really want to do that?’

It wasn’t an impression about the adventurer, Lee Ho-yeol.

Bellier, she also still didn’t trust Ho-yeol.

However, in Marcelo’s case, the story is different.

The founder of Theoretical Magic, Marcelo.

He did not discriminate between magic or schools.

The Mage Tower, and even magic that had been passed down from outside the Mage Tower.

Marcelo founded Theoretical Magic, which could organize that vast magic into theories.

Thanks to that great achievement, Marcelo became a Chief Mage, and without stopping there, immediately occupied the position of Senior.

‘No matter how much they chatter for a hundred days, will it even leave a scratch on that achievement?’

No matter how much they coveted the position of Senior.

In fact, they themselves probably knew too.

That no matter how much they racked their brains, they wouldn’t be able to take away Marcelo’s seat through normal methods.

So they must be risking their lives on this opportunity.

Retracting her sneer, Bellier looked around.

‘……Of course, more than anyone else.’

Black Magic School, Matis Dean Carl.

That man must be grinding his teeth the most.

It was Matis who had elevated Black Magic, which had been treated as an unorthodox path, to its current position.

The prevailing opinion was that if Marcelo hadn’t randomly appeared like a comet, the current Senior Mage of the Mage Tower would have been Matis.

‘Well, yes. “If” remains only an “if”.’

Bellier shrugged her shoulders lightly.

It was about time.

A loudly chattering voice could be heard.

“Will he even be able to enter on time for this?”

Yes, just as they said, the qualification proof had already begun.

Joint research with the Senior Mage.

Just as much as he receives the same treatment as the Senior Mage.

Strict qualification proof regarding that inevitably follows.

Honestly, a mere adventurer.

She didn’t have expectations that he would be able to pass the qualification proof.

‘When they’re grinding their teeth like this.’

She could tell right away just by looking at that tightly closed entrance door.

Seal magics of different lineages manifested in three layers.

That was enough to make even Bellier click her tongue.

‘I don’t know about Marcelo, but.’

Even decent Chief Mages including herself would take quite a lot of time to undo that seal.

In that sense, the result of the qualification proof, failure, was already glaringly obvious.

Well, since the appointment time had little remaining…….

Clang!

“……?”

It was then.

When the first seal was released.

No, the sound did not stop there.

Clang!

Click, clack!

Sounds ringing in succession.

In an instant, the triple seal magic was undone.

The three Chief Mages who manifested the magic were astonished.

“N-Nonsense!”

“……He broke through that so quickly?”

“……Could it be, Marcelo. Is it Marcelo?”

The opening door.

However, Marcelo wasn’t there.

A single shadow standing alone within the backlight.

At that moment, there was a memory that came to Bellier’s mind.

‘……Could it be?’

That was the Healing School’s Skilled Mage.

A story Klee had passed on.

-Excuse me, Chief Mage Bellier. If by any chance. By a really slight chance. If there was someone who spoke to me without an invitation letter……. Does that mean he saw through the Tower Master’s hallucination magic?

Since Klee wasn’t a child who spoke nonsense.

So Bellier had asked back.

Why, was there such a person.

-With that silver hair……. Ah, no! It was a slip of the tongue.

She didn’t finish her words but.

That child, Klee, definitely said that, didn’t she.

Tick

Soon, a man revealing his appearance from within the backlight.

Bellier’s pupils widened.

“!”

Because his hair was definitely silver.

.

.

.

Crystal Hall.

I didn’t know I would visit this place where the regular academic conference was held again so quickly.

And to prove my abilities at that.

I looked around at the faces of people gathered.

There are twenty people according to the quest.

Indeed, are these the Chief Mages.

All of them exuded threatening atmospheres.

Just comparing the feeling of intimidation they emit…….

‘Everyone is definitely above Harkon.’

Harkon’s level is a whopping level 600.

Then just how high are the levels of these Mages?

I realize once again the caliber of the Mage Tower.

However.

Tick

Whether I like it or not.

As if to enjoy those gazes, I stepped forward to the center of the Crystal Hall.

Then I opened my mouth.

“It seems someone has played a trick on the door.”

As if very displeased.

The cause of this displeasure is clear.

I crazily want to leave work right now……!

Academic conference, Yusra Islands, again the Crystal Hall where the academic conference was held.

Although I did manage to get some shut-eye at the laboratory.

There was no way the fatigue of the overworked body would be relieved with that.

And in the midst of that, a quest popped up.

No matter how much I am used to proving, really.

Isn’t this a schedule that deviates too much from formality?

Is there no labor law or something at the Mage Tower.

“I am not idle enough to go along with your tricks.”

I’m saying I’m sick of overtime work……!

Did my dissatisfaction get conveyed?

Some of them seemed to flinch.

Looking at them, I continued my words.

“If you’ve wasted my time with this kind of trick.”

I’m saying I want to go home.

“I will formally hold you accountable for it.”

I’m saying I want to pour hot water on myself.

“!!!”

At those words of mine.

I saw three people uniquely reacting greatly.

Wondering why they are doing that, for a moment.

The quest window blinked.

─Prove your abilities. (In Progress)

●Persuade a majority of the Chief Mages. (3/20)

And an answer was heard.

“……We will withdraw our objection to Senior Mage Marcelo’s decision. It means we will also acknowledge the adventurer, Lee Ho-yeol’s qualification for joint research.”

I naturally thought.

Yes, you should have come out like that way earlier.

*

[Someone has uncovered the secrets of the Yusra Islands.]

[The Ancient Kingdom, the Yusra Kingdom reveals its appearance.]

Who is the ‘someone’ who drew a stroke in the history of Arcana?

For the mass media, there was no gossip topic better than that.

Since nothing has been revealed, there’s no need to take responsibility either.

That meant they could prattle about whatever they pleased.

For viewer ratings.

As provocatively as possible.

“As expected, I think it’s Skal.”

“Are you talking about the #1 Player ranking, Skal?”

“Yes, is Skal a great person who would be satisfied with just one treasure of an island? He must be pretending not to know even after slaying the Great Evil in order not to break that mysterious concept.”

As expected, it’s none other than Skal.

There were quite a few people who thought so.

However, there was a huge blind spot in that argument.

“Hey man, if Skal had defeated it, his level would have gone up.”

That was it.

Skal’s current level is 406.

To say he defeated the Seven Deadly Sins Greed, which approaches level 650, the degree of increase was too small.

If so, another possibility that comes to mind.

“I think it’s really the Lionheart Knights after all?”

That was the choice with the highest probability.

Furthermore, in the case of the Lionheart Knights, there were also witnesses.

“It really was like a single flash of light, you know? They just smashed the skeletons and advanced forward!”

Level 650.

A monster with stats that a Player could not possibly face.

But if it was the Lionheart Knights, who were called the Empire’s strongest, it might be possible.

Besides, they had helpers.

“Gaon and Berserker. And finally Lee Ho-yeol. With that much strength, wouldn’t it have been worth a try? Well, let’s say Harkon poured out his full power, you know.”

The end of guesses and discussions.

Public opinion was gradually narrowing down.

That the Lionheart Knights and the Players joined forces and defeated the Great Evil, the Seven Deadly Sins Greed.

However, as people who knew the truth, it was a frustrating situation.

“Phew. We can’t even show this to them. Really!”

This is so frustrating. Really.

Thump, thump!

Nam Tae-min beating his chest while watching TV.

As expected, the only one who sympathized with him was his older brother.

“They really just spread their wings of imagination and spread them in a weird direction. What have we done? Ultimately, the one who slayed the Great Evil was Ho-yeol all by himself.”

For Nam Cheol-min, the truth of that day remained as a video.

The battle of that day watched from Nam Tae-min’s perspective.

It was something surprisingly amazing no matter how many times he hit replay.

The Great Evil that became agitated as soon as it faced Ho-yeol.

The skill bombardment poured onto such a guy.

Because it was an overwhelming battle like he had never seen before.

Nam Cheol-min nodded.

“That feeling, I can understand it.”

“Ah, right! Hyung was also possessed by an imp.”

“Yeah. That must have been exactly how I looked. The imp guy was completely terrified back then. As expected, whether it’s an imp or a Great Evil, does it not make much of a difference in front of Mr. Ho-yeol?”

Lastly.

Ho-yeol placing the crown on the reawakened king.

And revealing the truth of the Yusra Islands.

Nam Tae-min lowered his voice and imitated Ho-yeol’s line.

“It is time to correct your mistake. Unknown King. Kya.”

This is a drama, and this is a movie!

As the video ended like that, Nam Tae-min screamed once again.

“……Uugh, there is no other epic like this!”

To think we are the only ones who can watch this.

To think we have no choice but to quietly listen to those brain-fictions.

The reason was simple.

“Even if it’s frustrating, you have to endure it. Is there any other way?”

Above all, the video laid bare Ho-yeol’s full power.

Because they couldn’t possibly release such a video without Ho-yeol’s permission.

Nam Cheol-min continued his words.

“Still, he might need it later, just in case. So we should keep the recorded video safe. In that sense, it’s a relief there were few watching eyes.”

Excluding the Lionheart Knights.

The only ones who directly witnessed the battle between Ho-yeol and the Great Evil were Nam Tae-min and Leoni.

Because both of them had given a retreat order to their guild members early on.

“Yeah. We shouldn’t even make matters we’ll be ashamed of in the first place.”

They owed Ho-yeol another huge debt.

Despite them doing nothing.

Ho-yeol gave them the opportunity to participate in the reconstruction of the Yusra Kingdom.

Thanks to that, Nam Tae-min and Gaon’s guild members received a precious quest called [Yusra Kingdom Reconstruction].

So they had no choice but to repay that favor.

“Let’s really do our best, Hyung.”

There is give and take in everything.

Since they had only been receiving until now.

In order to be in a position to give someday.

Nam Tae-min, who was making a resolution, suddenly muttered.

“……By the way, will that little kid watch her mouth?”

.

.

.

“Ah, my ears are itchy.”

Scratch

Leoni scratched her innocent head hard.

Of course, scratching her head wouldn’t untangle her complicated mind.

Goddamn it.

Leoni threw the remote control nervously.

“Not watching it.”

Thinking if there was anything fun on.

She changed the channels but.

No matter which channel she turned to, all of them were stories about the Yusra Kingdom.

The truth of that day, or whatever.

Who caught the Great Evil.

Leoni sprawled out on the sofa.

The corners of her mouth crept up slightly.

“……Talks without even knowing well.”

I know everything, you know?

What happened back then?

The sense of superiority she was feeling without realizing it.

That sense of superiority was something quite precious to Leoni in its own way.

“Unni, are you really not going to tell me?”

“What.”

“I mean. What happened to make you tell only us to leave!”

“I don’t know. Me neither.”

“Ah, that’s cheap!!”

To the point where she hated sharing it even with guild members who were practically like blood sisters.

“Just what in the world happened, that you even received a quest?”

Leoni merely shrugged her shoulders at them.

However, her mind was still complicated.

As we progress through the quest, the influence and ranking of the Berserker Guild will naturally rise. Right, as a Guild Master, it is definitely correct to purely like it but…….

‘……Aren’t we indebted again because of this?’

At this rate, will I even be able to get treated to a cup of tea……?

Leoni, who was worrying, muttered without realizing it.

“……What could he be doing.”

“What could he be doing. Unni, what time is it right now. Obviously sleeping.”

“……W-What’re you saying? Who? Who’s sleeping?!”

“Who else. Aren’t you talking about Lee Ho-yeol?”

“W-What’re you saying?! No, I’m not! What do you guys know?! Won’t you shut up?!”

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.

.

Drip, drip

Drops of sweat falling.

……I haven’t fallen asleep yet.

I had intended to dive right into bed after washing up.

However, my flesh refused.

Because I realized my weakness.

Even if I slayed the Great Evil alone.

It was an impossible task without the help of the Lionheart Knights and other Players.

Because if I had been alone, let alone reaching the Great Evil, I would have fallen into magic power exhaustion surrounded by skeletons.

That fact.

The pride in my chest would not tolerate it.

─Train your weakened physical body. (Repeat) ▲

●Run 20km (Success)

●1,000 Push-ups (Success)

●500 Pull-ups (Success)

●300 Burpees (Success)

Only after checking that message.

Thud

I collapsed onto the floor as if fainting.

……Goddamn it, embarrassing past.

I might die first before trying to overcome it……!

[The conditions have been met.]

[Rewards will be given.]

I barely managed to open the status window.