Chapter 131 – A Nightmare Appears

The 90th floor of the tower, Gravity Magic Tower.

“Tower Master Iona passed away in an accident at the mana stone mine.”

As soon as he buried Iona in the mana stone mine, Gonoba returned to the Gravity Magic Tower, held a magic tower meeting, and announced Iona’s death.

“Deputy Tower Master Gonoba, what do you mean by that?”

“The Tower Master… there is no way!”

“Please tell us the location of the mana stone mine! I will go and check for myself!”

The wizards of the Gravity Magic Tower’s Elder Council denied Gonoba’s words. The Tower Master Iona they knew was not someone who would die from a mere explosion of a mana stone mine.

Moreover,

“If Tower Master Iona had passed away, that sealing stone up there should have turned red!”

“That’s right. Isn’t the sealing stone still the same!”

On the top floor of the magic tower where the meeting was being held, the black crystal on the ceiling remained unchanged. That proved Iona was still alive.

However,

Goooo.

As if to refute the words of the Elder Council’s wizards, red smoke began to hover around the black crystal.

“Th… That is…”

“How can this be… The Curse of the Nightmare has returned.”

“Tower Master Iona has passed away…”

The wizards of the Elder Council, who had denied Iona’s death until now, accepted her death upon seeing the red smoke.

This was because the Curse of the Nightmare, which the Tower Master of the Gravity Magic Tower carried until death, had returned after losing its owner.

Although it was a portion of the Demon King’s soul that had separated and returned when Iona entered the Dimension Shield, the other wizards could not distinguish that.

The Curse of the Nightmare was a symbol and a shackle of the Tower Master that had been passed down since the first Tower Master of the Gravity Magic Tower, and it was a curse that sealed the soul of the ancient Demon King, Nightmare, inside one’s body.

The cursed individual suffered from terrible nightmares every time they fell asleep for the rest of their life. In exchange, the one afflicted by the Curse of the Nightmare could borrow and use the vast mana possessed by the soul of the Demon King, Nightmare.

After the first Tower Master who founded the Gravity Magic Tower imprisoned the ancient Demon King Nightmare on the top floor of the Gravity Magic Tower, they made the successive Tower Masters inherit the curse generation after generation.

This was to prevent the Demon King’s seal from being broken and to protect the reputation of the Gravity Magic Tower.

‘These bastards! Once I become the Tower Master, I will kick them all out!’

Gonoba gnashed his teeth inwardly as he watched the wizards of the Elder Council, who had not believed his words but only accepted Iona’s death after the Demon King’s soul returned.

Although it was the result of his own past actions, Gonoba only thought that the wizards of the Elder Council were ignoring him.

“Since Tower Master Iona is dead, in accordance with the laws of the Magic Tower, I, the Deputy Tower Master, will become the next Tower Master of the Gravity Magic Tower.”

“Fly!”

As Gonoba spoke confidently and flew toward the red mist,

-Kekeke. How foolish of you to accept my curse, blinded by greed.

The voice of the Demon King Nightmare resounded in Gonoba’s head.

“Yes. Hurry up and cast the curse, ancient Demon King.”

Because Gonoba thought the stories about the nightmares were exaggerated, he spoke boldly. It was only a dream, so what did it matter if he had a little nightmare? As long as he could become the Tower Master…

-Well, I have been bored lately anyway, so try to endure my curse, arrogant hyena.

Sss.

At the same time, the red smoke was absorbed into Gonoba’s body.

“Kahahahaha! I’m overflowing with power!”

Gonoba rejoiced at the formidable mana felt in his body.

“Listen, Elder Council. Directly prepare my Tower Master appointment ceremony!”

“Yes… Tower Master.”

Although the wizards of the Elder Council were reluctant, because Gonoba was chosen by the Curse of the Nightmare and became the Tower Master, they recognized Gonoba as the Tower Master in accordance with the laws of the Magic Tower.

“Kahahahaha.”

Watching the wizards of the Elder Council follow his words without a single complaint, Gonoba felt a sense of pleasure.

“Keke. This is the feeling.”

Fascinated by the power of the Tower Master, Gonoba enjoyed all the rights of the Tower Master and fully enjoyed his day. When night came, Gonoba felt fatigued.

Since he had run around here and there being treated as the Tower Master, it was only natural.

“I’m tired. I should sleep a bit.”

Although he would have nightmares if he slept, it was just a nightmare in exchange for becoming the Tower Master. Gonoba thought nothing of it and fell asleep.

And,

-Since the power of the curse is only one-hundredth of my original curse, you will endure for a few days.

The voice of Nightmare was heard again in his dream.

“Hmph! Even so, isn’t it just a dream!”

-Keke. Enjoy your current arrogance to your heart’s content. For it will soon turn into screams.

Once Nightmare finished speaking,

Kraaa!

A monster with a black human silhouette appeared.

“Hmph! Is this all?! Fireball!”

Gonoba defeated the enemy without difficulty.

Kraaaak!

However, as time passed, the number of enemies gradually increased. Moreover, they even became stronger.

By the time morning arrived,

“Uaaah!”

Gonoba woke up from sleep screaming.

Tremble tremble.

The memory of dying in the nightmare was too vivid. The pain felt just as it did before dying. The enemies deliberately inflicted pain, killing Gonoba slowly. A plea to be killed naturally escaped his lips.

“Ugh… To think I have to experience this every time I sleep… Bring some alcohol!”

Gonoba drank heavily from the morning to erase the terrible memories of the nightmare.

***

Se-jun ate breakfast and immediately began healing the banana tree.

[Farmer’s Warm Touch Lv. 4 is activated.]

[While the touch lasts, the banana tree’s illness is healed little by little.]

While Se-jun healed the banana tree,

Bat-bat.

The golden bat sang a song just like yesterday to cheer up the banana tree.

And,

“Meow, meow, meow.”

Following the pull he felt from his front paw since yesterday, Theo moved secretly, away from the other animals. It was an incredibly huge pull. He planned to keep it for himself without anyone knowing.

And if he took it to Park Se-jun…

‘This body will monopolize Chairman Park’s love, meow!’

As Theo was heading toward the source of the pull, imagining himself being loved while receiving and eating Churu on Se-jun’s lap,

“Pyak!”

“Kkueng!”

Suddenly, the black rabbit and Cuengi appeared in front of Theo and blocked his path. The two had found Theo suspicious as he kept glancing at the volcano that had appeared yesterday.

Theo thought he had not given it away at all, but first of all, leaving Se-jun’s lap in itself was an extremely suspicious action.

“Kkueng?”

[Where is big brother going?]

“Puhuhut. I am going to find treasure, meow! You guys, follow me, meow!”

Since he had been caught like this, Theo decided to take his younger brothers along too. Honestly, he felt bored going alone. And he thought that some work he could order them to do might arise.

“Pyak!!!”

“Kkueng!!!”

At the mention of treasure, the black rabbit and Cuengi nodded their heads vigorously, their eyes shining. We will follow you!

“Follow me, meow!”

“Pyak!”

“Kkueng!”

In that way, the black rabbit and Cuengi followed Theo and arrived at the entrance of the volcano formed by the explosion of the mana stone mine.

“Pyak!”

“Kkueng!”

Seeing the softly glowing blue stones scattered around the volcano, the black rabbit and Cuengi thought they were treasure, ran over, and began picking them up.

“That is not treasure, meow!”

Theo, who was focusing on the pull, hurriedly stopped the two.

The stones that glowed with a faint blue light were ones into which mana had permeated when a large amount of mana from the mana stone mine was released, and they were useless since they would turn back into ordinary stones in a day or two.

‘It was a good thing I brought the two of them, meow.’

Upon arriving here, there was not just one pull, but dozens. It seemed that several pulls had gathered to feel strong. If he had not brought the two, he would have almost run around busily all by himself.

“Follow me, meow!”

Taking the two with him, Theo moved to the nearest spot following the pull in his front paw.

And,

“Black rabbit, try breaking this, meow!”

Theo pointed to the huge boulder in front of him and said.

“Pyak!”

At Theo’s words, the black rabbit swung his hammer toward the boulder.

Pyok! Pyok! Pyok!

Crack.

The boulder split under the black rabbit’s hammer strokes.

Then, a golf-ball-sized purple stone that had been hidden inside the boulder appeared.

“This is the treasure, meow!”

Theo pointed at the purple stone and said.

“Now, what I’m saying…”

“Pyak!”

“Kkueng!”

Before Theo could even finish speaking, the black rabbit and Cuengi shouted. It’s a contest to see who can find more treasure! Start!

Having shouted that, the two got excited and began to smash the surrounding boulders randomly.

“Puhuhut. It won’t just come out by doing that, meow. In any case, victory is mine, meow.”

Theo ridiculed the two and moved leisurely, following the pull in his front paw.

However,

“Meow?”

Before he could even dig up a few purple stones, Theo’s leisure disappeared.

Pyok! Pyok! Pyok!

Boom!

Compared to Theo, the excavation speed of the black rabbit and Cuengi was too fast. Especially Cuengi was truly cheat-like.

“Kkueeng!”

When Cuengi slammed the ground with his fist,

Boom!

All the boulders within a 10m radius around Cuengi turned to dust. Cuengi copied the technique he had seen Pink Fur use.

Boom!

Finding purple stones in the shattered rocks after slamming the ground like that was much faster than the speed of Theo searching for them one by one.

In the end, the winner of the treasure hunt was Cuengi, who had found 23 purple stones. Theo found 15, and the black rabbit found 7.

“Kkueng! Kkueng!”

[I won! If Dad uses this, he will get stronger!]

Theo thought that Cuengi had found the purple stones by blindly smashing things, but Cuengi also had his own knack for finding things.

It was a knack for things that would make Se-jun stronger. It was an ability created by Cuengi’s earnest desire to protect his weak dad.

Having packed 45 purple stones in that way, Theo, the black rabbit, and Cuengi returned proudly toward Se-jun.

It was lunchtime when they returned.

“Where did you guys go?”

Se-jun, who was preparing lunch, asked.

“We brought something helpful to Chairman Park, meow!”

“Pyak!”

“Kkueng!”

Rumble.

Theo, the black rabbit, and Cuengi poured the purple stones they had in front of Se-jun. The sizes were all different, ranging from the size of a fingernail to the size of a fist.

“What is this?”

Se-jun picked up a golf-ball-sized purple stone and examined it.

[Intermediate Skill Stone]

If used, the energy contained in the Skill Stone increases the proficiency of the desired skill by 50.

Grade: C

“Uh?!”

To think such a thing existed?! It was his first time learning that a skill’s proficiency could be raised with this kind of item.

‘Thank you, guys!’

Se-jun praised the three who had brought the Skill Stones.

“Then give me Churu quickly, meow!”

“Pyak!”

[Please let me play with Uncle and stay for a week!]

“Kkueng!”

[I want to eat on Dad’s lap too!]

At Se-jun’s praise, they rushed at Se-jun, each stating what they wanted.

And,

Thud!

Se-jun had to take a break from work that day.

“Kkueng…”

[Dad, hurry up and get stronger to play with me…]

Cuengi felt sad while taking care of the unconscious Se-jun.

***

“Welcome.”

Gonoba warmly welcomed the Tower Masters of the Flame Magic Tower, the Destruction Magic Tower, and the Meteor Magic Tower, who had supported him.

“Tower Master Gonoba, why does your face look so worn out?”

The other Tower Masters asked as they looked at the haggard-faced Gonoba.

‘Ahem. Because there has been a lot of work lately…’

“Aha. Indeed, since you suddenly became the Tower Master, you must have a lot to do.”

“Still, you must take care of your health while doing it.”

“Of course. You even have to become the president of the Wizards’ Association. Isn’t that right?”

“Kahahahaha. It will be fine once the work is finished soon.”

Gonoba found a solution in the diary recorded by Iona while searching for a way to resolve the nightmare.

‘First, stall for time as much as possible so that stronger enemies do not appear.’

At that moment,

“We will prepare the meal.”

The servants began bringing out the food.

And,

“Now, let’s eat first before we talk.”

When the hungry Gonoba spoke to the other Tower Masters and opened the lid covering the food,

“…?!”

An existence that should absolutely not be there was staring at Gonoba.

“Kyu-kyu-kyu-kyu-”

It was the appearance of a waking nightmare.