Chapter 77 – Dignity of the Chief (1)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“The regular academic conference will be temporarily suspended.”

─The Weight of the Chief (Repeat) ▲

●Proceed with the verification at the Topaz Hall. (Success)

●Successfully proceed with the regular academic conference. (Ongoing)

The quest objective is to successfully proceed with the regular academic conference.

To skip the last presenter Bangrit and end the conference?

That cannot be called a successful conclusion.

My pride was telling me.

“Bangrit Tom. The moment he stands on the podium, I will resume the conference.”

Saying I will definitely stand Bangrit in the Crystal Hall!

By the way, is it okay for me to proceed with the conference as I please?

Suddenly, such a worry occurred to me but.

I merely thought again.

If you were dissatisfied, you shouldn’t have made me do it.

In that sense, Bangrit Tom.

I cannot know where he has hidden himself but.

One thing was sure.

“Of course, before that, I will question and hold him responsible regarding the current situation.”

If there is no appropriate reason.

Meaning if there is no reason that my pride considers reasonable.

You’ll suffer quite a bit, Senior Mage Bangrit Tom.

*

Silence

Even if it were someone else, Ho-yeol went up on the podium.

It’s Ho-yeol who places the utmost importance on etiquette and formality.

And not only that, he even brought up the word ‘procedure’.

How could anyone dare to chat or not listen attentively.

Murmur murmur

As that Ho-yeol left the Crystal Hall.

Only then did the Players cautiously part their lips.

“……Hey shit, isn’t this a quest?”

“Just looking at it, it’s totally a quest angle though?”

“If we find and bring Bangrit Tom, does it connect to a quest from then on?!”

It smelled.

And it was the smell of a major quest at that.

Because it was a situation where a mage of the Mage Tower, and a senior mage at that, had gone missing.

The Players started to gauge the mood.

To have received an invitation to the regular academic conference?

It means they have as much sense as the experience points they’ve accumulated.

“For now, let’s watch. It could surprisingly end anti-climactically, right?”

The possibility of ending anti-climactically.

It meant the case where Bangrit Tom was inside the Mage Tower.

If one had to give an example.

“Well, falling asleep somewhere because his tension was released.”

That kind of possibility.

But even so, it couldn’t be easily imagined.

“Could a senior mage of all people do that?”

Being mage class Players.

The Players who knew well the greatness of the Mage Tower.

They couldn’t understand a senior mage showing such a mistake.

So the wait wasn’t long.

Starting with Ho-yeol.

The moment all the senior mages left the Crystal Hall.

The Players also kicked their seats and started moving.

“It’s certain. Bangrit Tom is outside the Mage Tower!”

“You heard, right? Saying we must definitely find Bangrit Tom!”

“……You ask what he looks like? Wait a minute, I’ve never properly seen him?!”

The Crystal Hall.

The one left in that place was one person.

It was only Jesica Highness.

Jesica opened her mouth.

“What do you think?”

The pointed hat answered without bobbing.

-It’s certainly an unprecedented occurrence.

Even if its reputation had faded now.

It was the regular academic conference of the Mage Tower.

A mage who disappeared ahead of presenting at that regular academic conference?

Even tracing back its memories as a great mage, there was no such thing.

Moreover, Bangrit Tom was a senior mage.

“I heard he staked a lot on this research…….”

Jesica, who frequently visited the Mage Tower and had many conversations with apprentice and skilled mages. Thus, she also knew well about Bangrit’s circumstances. Jesica mumbled.

“……Something definitely happened to him.”

-Going by the atmosphere, that would be so. However, Disciple.

“Yes?”

-Do not intervene in this matter.

“……?”

It wasn’t anxiety as a master.

Because this was something one could know with just a little thought.

Jesica, who realized the inner thought contained in those words, flinched.

“……Is it possible for something to happen to Senior Bangrit?”

It was.

Bangrit Tom.

Leaving aside his position in the Mage Tower, he is a senior mage of the Mage Tower.

An existence closer to a superhuman than a human.

Because she watched from up close, Jesica knew well.

What kind of existences the senior mages of the Mage Tower were.

If it’s a matter to the extent of causing a problem with such Bangrit’s personal safety?

Soon, Jesica kicked her seat and stood up.

“……It’s not the time for everyone to be thinking about things like quests!”

This really wasn’t an ordinary matter.

To the extent that just getting involved is dangerous, as her master said.

*

The Mage Tower.

The disappearance of the Senior Mage Bangrit Tom.

That news was also delivered to the AAU.

“Sunbae! How did you get this bait?”

“Oh, you came? Because there was a Netuber who was streaming. He broadcasted the regular academic conference from the start. Isn’t he quite bold? How is he going to handle it if he gets caught.”

“Is the replay left? Can I rewind it a bit?”

“Of course.”

Yoon Soo-gyeom clicked the rewind button.

Then the chat window that popped up also started going backward.

Sung Hyun-jun, who was looking at the chat window, flinched.

By the way, somehow the chat window is full of only the exact same words……?

“Homen. Homen. Homeeeeen? The spamming today is no joke?”

“They couldn’t help it. Because it was no joke. Earlier.”

“Even so, they’ve been spamming for hours? But instead of kicking them out, he’s actually spamming along with them? Just what in the world happened?”

Again, it’s a long story to tell.

Sip sip

Yoon Soo-gyeom sucked on his Americano and preached today’s miracle.

He wasn’t exaggerating.

Because what Ho-yeol showed was truly a performance close to a miracle.

Sung Hyun-jun, who had been listening quietly, was startled and asked back.

“H-He actually taught the skilled mages?!”

“Yeah. He just went all out and even presented research directions.”

“Does that make sense? No, I don’t understand it?”

Ho-yeol, who is merely a Player.

How could he teach the mages of the Mage Tower?

Sung Hyun-jun seemed to still not be convinced but.

Regretfully.

“But that’s not what’s important.”

“……Right. Since there’s something even more unconvincing.”

“Bangrit Tom.”

That the senior mage of that Mage Tower had gone missing.

Because that was the real reason an emergency was declared in the AAU.

Sung Hyun-jun tore at his hair.

“Where did he jump off to suddenly?”

“We have to figure that out starting now.”

“No, really. Well, if some other NPC. No, if another Arcanian went missing, I’d be like, is that so. It’s an unfortunate matter. And just pass it by but……!”

As mentioned.

What kind of existences were the mages of the Mage Tower?

Even among them, Bangrit Tom is a senior mage.

One sees as much as they know.

The AAU was realizing the seriousness of the situation.

“To begin with, they aren’t NPCs set to be active in the Arcana continent, right? The mages of the Mage Tower? If those guys start moving properly. Whether it’s the Empire or what, what can restrain the Mage Tower is…….”

Yoon Soo-gyeom clicked his tongue ‘tsk’.

“Don’t exaggerate. Who said the Mage Tower moved as a group? It’s just Bangrit Tom disappearing on his own as he pleased.”

“Even that isn’t an ordinary matter, Sunbae! What if. Really, what if. Let’s say a quest related to Bangrit Tom pops up just like the Players’ speculations. Putting it bluntly, let’s suppose a situation arises where Players confront Bangrit Tom.”

“Hey. I don’t even want to imagine it. That.”

Because he knew to some extent, he could guarantee.

If, Bangrit Tom becomes the Players’ enemy.

He might become a stronger enemy than the Demon King, Decarabia.

“What got twisted for a situation like this to happen, in the world.”

Uwaaaack

Even groaning and tearing at his hair, nothing came to mind.

So Sung Hyun-jun couldn’t help but be puzzled.

Even though he knows the seriousness of the situation better than I do.

Because Sunbae, Yoon Soo-gyeom didn’t seem to have any signs of worrying.

“……Are you okay, Sunbae?”

“Hm? What?”

“No, if it were the old days, you would be making a bigger fuss than me…….”

“Ah, I developed faith.”

“Faith? Sunbae, did you start believing in some religion?”

“Religion?”

Yoon Soo-gyeom chuckled.

“Well, you could see it that way too?”

And then he clicked the play button.

Then the video played again.

Ho-yeol’s voice flowed out from the speaker.

-“Bangrit Tom. The moment he stands on the podium, I will resume the conference.”

“!”

Right, there was Ho-yeol.

The missing Bangrit Tom.

A position higher than that great senior mage.

Ho-yeol, who is receiving treatment equivalent to a Chief Mage.

“Think about the Mage Tower’s settings. Even if he luckily came to sit in the seat of the Chief Co-researcher, if he couldn’t prove his abilities, he would have been stripped of his position quickly. Because that’s the kind of position the Chief of the Mage Tower is.”

Yoon Soo-gyeom continued.

“So you just naturally come to believe.”

Not only that, he operated the Decisive Battle Weapon, the Quernberg Mechanical Tower.

Wasn’t it Ho-yeol who raised the curtain on the full-scale counterattack?

Sung Hyun-jun opened his mouth.

“Homen, Homen. I think I kind of understand the reason why the spamming wouldn’t stop.”

Of course, just believing in Ho-yeol.

Would be no different from dereliction of duty.

The two people’s thoughts communicated without speaking.

‘Information that could be helpful to Ho-yeol.’

The exchange of glances was also brief.

Tap tap tap!

Sung Hyun-jun and Yoon Soo-gyeom started typing diligently on their keyboards.

“Since it’s no longer a game. It’s not a bug that popped.”

“Then there must be some purpose for him disappearing?”

“Right. You have to know that purpose to even try guessing where he went. The problem is how to find out that purpose……. First, shall we rummage through the Mage Tower settings?”

*

Right.

All actions are bound to have a purpose.

Even a sudden action like Bangrit’s just now must have a purpose.

So what is Bangrit’s purpose.

If you ask me.

“Even if you had an urgent call of nature. If you asked for understanding, I could understand.”

……Wait, no matter how important etiquette is.

How can you bring up the word toilet in the Crystal Hall?!

A thing called a sense of shame exists for humans, Granfel.

As you can see, a nutritious answer couldn’t come out.

However, unlike me who shamelessly spat out nonsense.

There was someone who could guess that purpose.

“Indeed, there is something that comes to mind.”

It was none other than Marcelo.

Marcelo glared his sunken eyes.

“I do not know what Sir Ho-yeol thinks but. I think I know the human Bangrit well. Although his abilities are outstanding, he also possesses the problem that his lack of confidence is blocking his development.”

Indeed, if so, it’s understandable that he tried to hand me a bribe disguised as sincerity. Because he lacked confidence, he tried to rely on something like a bribe.

Nod, nod

As I eagerly nodded my head, Marcelo continued.

“However, that is merely a personal problem. Someone put forth the opinion that perhaps Bangrit, receiving psychological pressure due to his diminished standing, vanished ahead of the academic conference but……. I do not agree.”

His voice was filled with certainty.

“Because he is the Senior Mage of Pure Magic.”

Marcelo’s meaning was simple.

They aren’t easy enough to vanish over pressure like this.

That’s what he meant about the senior mages of the Mage Tower.

Regarding that, I also deeply resonate.

“Therefore, I shall speak.”

While I was nodding continuously because there was no room for refutation.

Marcelo spoke meaningfully.

“It is a story regarding the Round Table Conference.”

……There was a reason he paused!

The Round Table Conference, a meeting of the Mage Tower’s higher-ups.

What in the world did they talk about in that higher-ups meeting?

It was true that I was inwardly curious.

Of course, I didn’t show it outwardly.

I appreciate the poker face at times like this. Really.

“The scheduled Round Table Conference has been postponed.”

……Wait, what? It was postponed?!

Wait a minute, then why did I go through all that hardship!!

At that moment, the unfair feeling boiling inside.

‘Appreciate the poker face my ass!’

I retract that kind of gratitude.

At this rate, I might die early from a fire disease(Hwabyung).

However, as expected, I asked back with an unmoving tone.

“When was the postponement of the Round Table Conference decided?”

“As you guessed. It was decided during the regular academic conference.”

“!”

“That is correct. It is similar to the time Bangrit left the Crystal Hall.”

What those words meant was simple.

Doesn’t this mean Bangrit Tom’s disappearance is connected to the Mage Tower’s higher-ups.

The Tower Master or the Elder Mages?

‘……This, I’m not misunderstanding this for nothing, right?’

Clearly, Marcelo also brought it up with that meaning but.

This isn’t some conspiracy theory either.

Because higher-ups suddenly popped up, I couldn’t help but flinch.

But as I said, I don’t show it outwardly.

At such a dry reaction from me, Marcelo laughed softly.

“As expected, you had also guessed that as well.”

“?”

“That is correct.”

Guessing, what did I guess?

A story that somehow seems like there’s more to be surprised about.

I braced my heart, but it was in vain.

“This is the situation of the Mage Tower that I could not speak of.”

At that moment, the quest window flashed.

[Quest : Truth of the Mage Tower]

A contradiction exists within the Tower of Magic.

Uncover the contradiction.

Set the Mage Tower and the truth right.

─Secure Bangrit Tom, who is entangled with the higher-ups of the Mage Tower. (Ongoing)

……So they were connected like this?

Just how complicated is this twisted from the top.

I had an intuition since Marcelo couldn’t easily bring it up.

But seeing the actual reality, it feels like the shock is doubled.

‘Not just a Mage Tower mage, but the higher-ups.’

However, contrary to my inner thoughts.

I replied.

With an incomparably shameless voice.

“I understand your difficulty. Chief Mage Marcelo.”

*

“I’m telling you they’re idiots? You gotta use your head!”

The Mage Tower’s lobby.

In that place, several Players were on standby.

“What are you gonna do aggressively rushing out? Is he just gonna ta-da, come out and welcome you?”

Setting out to find Bangrit Tom too.

You need to find some clues to be able to find him.

In that sense, everyone was doing vain efforts.

“Right! If you don’t know, you gotta at least have some tact. Like us.”

What those Players were waiting for was Ho-yeol.

It was certain that Ho-yeol would also set out to find Bangrit Tom.

Who is Ho-yeol?

The Chief Co-researcher of the Mage Tower.

Naturally, he would have more information about the Mage Tower than anyone else.

“Just following Lee Ho-yeol, something will come out, that is.”

To follow but what if we find Bangrit Tom before Lee Ho-yeol does?

The quest and rewards are ours.

That was exactly the purpose of the Players on standby.

Clack

The end of the wait.

The sound of formal shoes echoing.

“Lee Ho-yeol is…….”

However, that impure purpose.

“……Huuuh?!”

Ended up being miserably shattered.

There wasn’t just one footstep.

Because Ho-yeol wasn’t alone.

“What’s that skeleton behind him again? A skeleton?”

It wasn’t a skeleton either.

It was just a man gaunt like a skeleton.

Until realizing that man’s identity.

It didn’t take a long time.

Because the mage Players who recognized him couldn’t contain their astonishment.

“H-How did Chief Mage Marcelo come all the way here……?”

“Wait, they are heading towards the portal. Those two!!”

“Has the Mage Tower started to move? Don’t tell me, because of Lee Ho-yeol?!”