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Author: Renegade

  • About a Dating Sim Where Dating Is Impossible Chapter 86

    It was the Janissary who ended the struggle first.

    By twisting his body and retreating, he rendered my attack futile. I had been striking down with all my might, and with my opponent suddenly gone, my stance collapsed. Staggering forward, I made a swift decision—if I tried to hold my ground, I would die. Instead, I shifted my center of gravity forward and rolled across the ground once more.

    Yet instinct whispered—if I didn’t act immediately, I would die.

    I grabbed the blade instead of the hilt. Swallowing a breath, I twisted my body and struck out with the hilt.

    —Kagak!

    The clash of steel against the hilt.

    Beyond it, the Janissary’s face twisted with unreadable emotion.

    The moment I felt strength returning to my exhausted body, I deflected his blade to the side.

    His stance wavered. He stumbled forward.

    There wasn’t enough space to reverse my grip and thrust my sword at him.

    Instead, I released my left hand from the blade and clenched my fist so tightly that my knuckles cracked.

    —PANG!

    “Guh…!”

    The Janissary staggered, coughing up saliva from the force of the punch to his gut.

    I knew the strike had landed cleanly.

    Using the brief opening, I leveled my sword at him.

    There was no hesitation.

    Even if he was among those I had failed to protect, I had too many others left to defend to be shackled by what was already lost.

    With my blade still aimed at him, I closed the distance in an instant.

    But he wasn’t a Janissary for nothing.

    Despite his pain, he lifted his sword and swung.

    —KAAAAANG!

    The sharp wail of clashing steel rang across the battlefield.

    Cleverly, he struck at the center of my blade’s weight with his own, throwing off my trajectory.

    But our attacks were evenly matched.

    We swung again, aiming to take each other’s lives.

    The battle lessened and flowed, a constant push and pull.

    Whenever I gained a step forward with strength, I lost one in skill.

    But one thing was certain—if this deadlock continued, we would both perish.

    Perhaps realizing the same, the Janissary became more aggressive.

    I couldn’t afford to retreat either.

    If I hoped to survive against an opponent who had resigned himself to mutual destruction, I would inevitably suffer a fatal wound.

    Each time our swords clashed, sparks scattered.

    Trading blow for blow, we tested our fates on the razor’s edge between life and death.

    Then, at last—

    Our blades aligned at nearly identical angles.

    Steel pressed against steel, locked together in a battle of sheer force.

    Step by step, we pushed forward, neither willing to give ground.

    It was only now, with our blades so close, that we truly faced each other.

    A Janissary wielding his sword in loyalty to the Sultan.

    A Christian monarch wielding his sword in defiance of him.

    The first to speak, overcome by emotion, was the Janissary.

    “You know this fight is meaningless, Your Highness!”

    Even as he spoke, he twisted his sword, seeking an opening.

    I blocked each shift, answering firmly.

    “There is no such thing as a meaningless fight…!”

    Upon hearing my response, his hatred deepened.

    He had already been fighting with murderous intent, but now his desire to crush me with sheer force surged even more violently.

    Yet—I had glimpsed what lay behind that hatred.

    The Janissary before me was the very embodiment of the Empire’s weakness.

    The despair of those who had already resigned themselves.

    Because the Empire was weak, they had lost.

    Again and again, they had been taken from.

    They were the ones I had failed to protect.

    That was why I had to win.

    The enemy before me was a man broken by centuries of decline.

    A former citizen who once had no choice but to kneel before an overwhelming foe in order to survive.

    If I couldn’t overcome even him, how could I hope to defeat my true enemy?

    To protect those who remained, I had to sever those already lost.

    The long-forgotten glory I had once spoken of no longer mattered.

    I—

    —I now fight for the sovereignty and freedom of those who follow me.

    —KAGAGAGAK!

    “…To think you had such strength hidden in that tattered body!”

    The sword slowly pressed forward. Twisting the body or deflecting the blow was no longer an option. This time, one of us would surely fall. And if someone had to fall, it would not be me.

    I poured the full weight of my life into my blade, bearing down on my opponent. The Janissary’s body, already weakened, gradually began to crumble. The impact to his abdomen from earlier must have resurged, for he was now drenched in cold sweat, his voice breaking into a desperate cry.

    “Why!? Why now of all times!?”

    I did not answer.

    “Why was my parents’ suffering never repaid!?”

    It was too late to turn back. No matter what he said, his loyalty lay solely with the Sultan. He may have wavered, but he would never turn his blade against his master. That was what it meant to be a Janissary—an elite force taught only unwavering loyalty and discipline.

    I reaffirmed my resolve. And yet—

    “Am I not one of your people, Your Highness!? Your Highness!”

    For a brief moment, the strength behind my sword faltered. Seizing the opportunity, the Janissary tried to shove my blade away. But the movement only served to clear my mind.

    No. He is not one of mine. He is my enemy—the one who threatens my people. He may have doubts, but that is all they are.

    His defense was now wide open. This was the moment.

    With all my might, I drove my blade downward.

    “Kh…! Aaaagh…!”

    He tried to stifle his scream, but the pain was too much to bear. His severed right arm fell to the ground, blood splattering across the dirt.

    I raised my sword once more, aiming precisely at his chest. It was then that I saw his face, twisted not in fury or hatred, but in sorrow.

    Tears spilled from his eyes.

    “I… I can no longer believe in people like you.”

    “I never asked you to.”

    I thrust my sword down.

    The blade tore through his ribs, piercing his heart. As I twisted the steel, a sickening scrape of bone echoed in the air, and blood gurgled up, spilling down the fuller of my sword. His eyes widened, caught between pain and disbelief.

    To make sure, I drove the blade deeper.

    He must have cursed me in his final thoughts—resented me, hated me.

    At last, his trembling body went still.

    “If heaven exists, then watch from above,” I murmured.

    If you have grievances, take them up with the gods.

    I pulled my sword free.

    Around me, the Janissaries hesitated, slowly stepping back. Corpses littered the battlefield, making it nearly impossible to distinguish friend from foe. Only I and one other knight remained standing.

    Our gazes met. His face was hidden behind his helm, but I could tell—he was smiling.

    And indeed, his voice, laced with exhilaration and triumph, confirmed it.

    “Look behind you, cousin.”

    Perhaps it was exhaustion or relief, but my movements felt sluggish. As I turned, my vision shifted—where before I saw only the dead, now I saw the living.

    Warriors clad in armor and gripping long spears stood in formation, their tense expressions barely containing the raw emotion threatening to spill forth.

    And finally, when I had turned completely—

    There she was.

    A woman astride a horse, framed by the fluttering banner of the double-headed eagle.

    Her golden hair, gleaming under the pristine sky, cascaded past piercing blue eyes filled with joy and deep affection as she gazed down at me.

    Tears welled in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks, yet her voice, though trembling, rang clear.

    “The enemy is in full retreat, Your Highness.”

    At her words, a deafening roar of victory erupted from all around.

    It was only then that I truly grasped it.

    We had won.

    Tears threatened to spill from my own eyes. My grip on my sword tightened.

    There was still a chance.

    For the first time, I looked up at the sky I had long ignored.

    “Vic…tory.”

    The sorrow of losing comrades, the grief of witnessing death, the joy of survival, the overwhelming exhilaration of taking one step forward—everything twisted together into an emotion I could not name.

    For a long moment, I did nothing but stare at the sky, lost in its vastness.

  • I Am the Only Tower Master Chapter 3

    “…Haha, that sounds grand. Then tell me, how can I use magic?”

    At my question, she raised her arm and pointed upward.

    “First, let’s head to the ninth floor. The answer lies there.”

    “The ninth floor?”

    “Yes, it is where the tower master’s private office is located. This way…”

    As I followed Eia, I casually glanced around.

    Even at a second look, the place felt incredibly unfamiliar and alien.

    If I had to describe it, it was like a chemistry lab, but could a research facility be this extravagant?

    Every surface, from the walls to the floor, gleamed with gold, and the central lobby was furnished with plush sofas and cushions.

    Scattered about were random objects like cups, proof that people had once lived here.

    “This place must have been inhabited in the past, right?”

    “Of course. Though for the last ten years, I’ve been alone. This way.”

    She led me to a magic circle installed on the floor. Its form was different from the one that had activated in my hand earlier.

    “How do I use this?”

    “Just step onto it.”

    As I stepped onto the magic circle, it lit up brightly and activated.

    An interface resembling an elevator’s buttons appeared before me, displaying floors from 1 to 9.

    I was currently on the first floor of the mage tower.

    The buttons for floors two and up were unlit, except for the ninth floor, which was glowing as if urging me to press it.

    I pressed the button.

    Vwoom!

    A sudden sensation of floating overtook me, and in the blink of an eye, my surroundings changed.

    The hovering elevator interface signaled our arrival at the ninth floor with a blue light.

    Eia, who had followed me up, gracefully bowed.

    “Welcome to the ninth floor, the tower master’s chamber.”

    If the first floor felt like a lavish hotel lobby, the ninth floor resembled a tidy and refined private office.

    I took a moment to look around.

    What captured my attention the most was the night view of Seoul beyond the glass-like walls.

    A gasp escaped my lips.

    ‘…Damn, the night view is insane. This is exactly the kind of place where CEOs in dramas stand with their hands behind their backs.’

    As I admired the scenery, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the window—and I flinched in surprise.

    My right eye was glowing blue, just like mana.

    Even now, the colour was shifting in abstract patterns—sometimes like waves rippling, sometimes like a swirling typhoon.

    “Eia, what’s happening to my eye?”

    “That eye is the symbol of the tower master—the Eye of the Sage.”

    I see. So this is the essence of my unique ability?

    It was cool, but it stood out way too much. I made a mental note to buy some coloured lenses later.

    After briefly surveying my office, I awkwardly sat down at the desk.

    Despite its antique design, it felt as comfortable as a custom chair.

    “Then, please rest well.”

    Eia disappeared into thin air, seemingly to avoid disturbing me.

    Left alone, I took a deep breath and organized my thoughts.

    “…Hmm.”

    Magic, huh.

    Even after reaching the ninth floor, I still had no clue how to use it.

    In modern times, players mainly used mana for activating their unique abilities or for mana-coating their weapons and clothes to enhance them.

    But now, I was suddenly supposed to cast spells with mana? Anyone would be baffled.

    Then, a thought struck me.

    ‘Maybe it works like in movies—just recite a magic spell, and boom?’

    I began searching the ninth floor for a magic book.

    Eventually, I found a promising one on a bookshelf in the corner.

    The title read: Fundamentals of Magic.

    The author: Ruin Kylas.

    It reminded me of that high school math textbook that dominated the market for thirty years.

    ‘Is this what Eia was talking about?’

    I opened the book.

    The text was in an unfamiliar language, yet I could read it perfectly.

    Must be thanks to the Eye of the Sage.

    I looked at the author’s opening words.

    “What is magic?”

    Seated at the desk, I dived into the book.

    It had an incredible pull.

    Not that the content was particularly thrilling, but I felt like an explorer secretly uncovering knowledge of a new civilization.

    After reading about a third of the book—

    ‘Holy crap, this might actually work!’

    I was overcome with the urge to try magic immediately.

    At first, I’d read out of mild curiosity, but the deeper I went, the more convinced I became that magic was not some vague, unattainable concept.

    With a pounding heart, I flipped back to the first chapter.

    “Let’s see… Magic is classified differently by different mages, but the author divides it into three types based on activation conditions: incantation magic, command magic, and magic circles…”

    The author recommended focusing on mastering one of the three.

    After some thought, I decided on magic circles.

    The reason was simple—magic circles were the fastest.

    No need to chant or recite anything.

    With magic circles, drawing a specific sigil with mana would immediately cast a spell.

    Once mastered, I’d be able to draw them mid-air, enabling rapid activation even in battle.

    It was flexible enough to be effective even in the fast-paced combat scenarios of modern monster encounters.

    ‘For my first spell, I should start with something simple, right?’

    I decided to learn “Gauntlet,” one of the three fundamental magic circles.

    The Fundamentals of Magic was structured so that beginners could follow along step by step, making it easy to replicate the process.

    — First, select the location where you wish to draw the magic circle and spread your mana broadly, as if laying down a flat canvas.

    It seemed that mages in this world referred to this as the “Base.”

    I layered two bases over the desk and placed my fingertip on top of them.

    As if holding a brush, a blue dot appeared where my finger touched. I concentrated my mana into my fingertip and turned to the next page.

    — Now, to form the “Field,” draw a precise circle.

    Ugh, I’m stuck already.

    Drawing a perfect circle freehand is no easy task.

    But despite my worries, my finger moved as if I were using a compass, creating an almost flawless circle.

    I stared at my finger in disbelief for a moment before moving on to the next step.

    Next was rune writing.

    “Runes” were essentially letters imbued with magical power. By using mana to inscribe these characters, one could trigger magical effects.

    Following the book’s instructions, I carefully inscribed a rune at the center of the circle.

    “Ohh.”

    Even though this was my first time attempting such a task, my finger moved with confidence, as if I had done it countless times before.

    In the blink of an eye, I had replicated the rune almost perfectly.

    — Now, write the activation formula along the circle’s perimeter.

    Creating a magic circle was easier than I expected.

    It felt similar to an electrical engineering student assembling a circuit board, inserting electronic components, and soldering connections during a lab exercise.

    Ten minutes later—

    “It looks pretty legit.”

    I observed my first completed magic circle.

    I had initially imagined something adorned with six-pointed stars and elaborate engravings, but in reality, it resembled a complex mathematical formula neatly arranged within a circle.

    I wasn’t entirely convinced it would work, but I couldn’t deny my growing excitement.

    Now for the final step.

    I placed my finger on the central rune and infused it with a steady flow of mana.

    Whoooom!

    The mana I channeled into the rune spread out in all directions, activating various components as it followed the complex formulas.

    The energy flowed smoothly, reaching the outer edges of the circle.

    Like water finding its way through the crevices of the earth, the mana coursed through the magic circle with a structured, rhythmic motion.

    At last, mana circulated evenly throughout the entire formation, causing its blue glow to intensify.

    This was incredible.

    I was overwhelmed with pride, feeling as though I had created a living, breathing system rather than a mere diagram.

    Now, it was time to test whether the magic circle actually worked.

    I carefully lifted the magic circle off the desk and released it.

    It remained suspended in midair, as if anchored to an invisible coordinate.

    Holding my breath, I reached out with my right hand and pushed it into the magic circle.

    “Please work! Please…!”

    Srrrng.

    As my right hand entered the circle, I felt a sensation akin to slipping into a soft fur glove.

    The once-flat formation reshaped itself into a three-dimensional structure, molding itself to fit my fingers.

    Encouraged, I pushed my arm in further.

    Swoosh!

    At last, my hand emerged from the other side, now enveloped in a shimmering layer of mana.

    [You have successfully completed your first Gauntlet magic circle.]
    [Intelligence has increased by 1.]
    [Concentration has increased by 1.]

    “…It worked!”

    At that moment, a flood of emotions surged through me.

    A cursed compatibility trait. A unique ability that, despite my high mana reserves, had never made me stronger.

    I had struggled endlessly to raise my stats, enduring countless hardships.

    And now, all of that effort had finally paid off.

    “I should test its power.”

    According to The Fundamentals of Magic, Gauntlet was a strike-based magic spell.

    Scanning my surroundings for an appropriate target, I settled on the wall.

    Since the tower had withstood military bombardment, a simple punch shouldn’t cause much damage, right?

    Bracing myself, I extended my leg and clenched my fist, now wrapped in shimmering blue mana.

    Then, I threw a full-force punch straight at the wall.

    KWOOM!

    A thunderous impact echoed through the room as my fist rebounded from the collision.

    The Gauntlet dispersed after delivering a massive shockwave, leaving a visible dent in the wall in the shape of my knuckles.

    “This actually works!”

    Gathering mana in my fist alone wouldn’t have generated this level of force.

    This was undeniably magic.

    “Heh… Heheheh.”

    I couldn’t hold back my laughter.

    The world’s first true mage had just been born.

  • Gatekeeper Of The Boundless World Chapter 36

    Nightmare World.

    Shen Ye rushed out of the hidden passage with Xiao Mengyu in his arms.

    He reallocated all his attribute points to agility and sprinted toward the human military camp with all his might.

    As he ran, he shouted,

    “Big Skeleton, you’re the battlefield scavenger—find her a suitable set of armor and an identity!”

    “I’m not a scavenger—damn it, do you think assembling a full set of gear is that easy?!” Big Skeleton grumbled.

    Still, it started pulling out various pieces of armor from its ring.

    As Shen Ye ran, he dressed Xiao Mengyu in a faceplate, helmet, leather armor, and arm guards.

    By then, the battlefield medical camp was already in sight.

    Shen Ye shouted,

    “Help! She’s dying!”

    Two guards in front of the camp crossed their spears to block his way, demanding harshly,

    “Who are you? Under which lord do you serve?”

    “—Show your identity papers!”

    Shen Ye had no such papers.

    Seeing Xiao Mengyu’s severe injuries, he grew anxious and bellowed,

    “You don’t recognize me? I’m that boy who miraculously survived!”

    The two guards trembled and took a closer look.

    “It’s really you.”

    “Quick! Get the wounded inside!”

    They hurriedly moved aside the barricades in front of the camp.

    Several medics arrived upon hearing the commotion.

    “It’s me! It’s me!” Shen Ye said excitedly.

    “It’s him! It’s him! The one whose hemorrhoids I’ll be treating in twenty years!” One medic puffed out his chest.

    “The miracle survivor? What are you doing back here?” another medic asked.

    Shen Ye laid Xiao Mengyu on a stretcher and said,

    “I found an injured comrade—hurry, heal her.”

    The medics examined her.

    The girl was clad in knight’s armor, exuding a lingering sharpness.

    Clearly, she was a skilled warrior of the human race.

    “Her wounds are severe. To heal her quickly, we’ll need rare sacred runes,” one medic assessed.

    “Take them! All of you, heal her together!”

    Shen Ye tossed his coin pouch at them.

    A medic weighed the pouch in his hands, carefully extracted a few gold coins, then returned it.

    “This is enough—was this pouch given to you by His Highness the Prince?”

    “Hmm? How do you know?” Shen Ye asked in surprise.

    “The emblem on the pouch—it’s exclusive to the royal family,” another medic replied.

    “Just heal her—no more chatter. I don’t want her to die,” Shen Ye urged.

    “Ah, understood!”

    The medics gathered around the stretcher, chanting sacred spells. Radiant light cascaded onto Xiao Mengyu’s body.

    Shen Ye stood to the side, watching.

    Suddenly.

    Faint glimmers of light appeared in the void, forming lines of text invisible to others:

    “The battlefield changes in an instant. With your absence, people began to forget you, and your reputation faded.”

    “But now, you have returned. You saved a comrade, carried her back to camp, and even spent your tuition fees just to save her.”

    “From this moment on, people will speak of your noble character.”

    “Congratulations—you’ve made a comeback.”

    “—The Boy Who Cheats Death.”

    Shen Ye was speechless.

    This title was as sticky as glue.

    Oh well.

    If he was making a comeback, so be it.

    Once the title was fully formed, he could just sacrifice it for attribute points.

    Before long.

    The sacred light dissipated entirely.

    The medics wiped the sweat from their brows.

    “How is she?” Shen Ye asked.

    “Her body is recovering rapidly. She should wake up in a few minutes,” one medic said.

    “When she awakens, she will be in peak condition,” another added.

    Shen Ye sighed in relief.

    Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he jumped up, grabbed Xiao Mengyu, and bolted outside.

    He ran so fast that in just a moment, he vanished from sight.

    —No one stopped him.

    “Looks like she’s his lover,” a soldier muttered.

    “Obviously! Who else would spend that much gold to save someone?” another soldier replied.

    “You’re right. If I had that much gold, I could marry several wives,” a third soldier mused.

    Meanwhile, the medics were discussing something else.

    “His Highness the Prince seems to think highly of him,” one medic remarked.

    “Eleven gold coins—he’s quite generous, and all for a friend,” another noted.

    “Exactly. So I added an extra ‘Blessing of Strength’ on his friend—lasts for three hours, just as a gesture of respect,” a third medic said.

    “What?!” the other medics exclaimed in unison.

    “What’s wrong?” the first medic asked in confusion.

    “I gave her ‘Blessing of Agility’.”

    “I gave ‘Blessing of Resonance’.”

    “And I granted ‘Blessing of Perception’.”

    “Sigh, we all had the same idea—I cast ‘Blessing of Spirit’.”

    “I also…”

    “Same here…”

    One by one, they revealed what they had done, exchanging stunned looks.

    “All set.”

    “Come to think of it, only His Highness the Prince has ever received this many blessings in battle.”

    “That’s right.”

    “Our Holy Medical Corps rarely gathers in full at major battle sites, and it’s even rarer for us to cast an entire set of blessings—”

    “I suppose we’ve formed a deep bond in advance with this ‘Boy Who Cheats Death.’”

    The healers chattered among themselves.

    In a dense forest.

    Shen Ye called out in a low voice, “Gate!”

    The door opened.

    At the same time, Xiao Mengyu’s eyes fluttered open slightly.

    Shen Ye stepped through the doorway.

    In the next instant—

    Xiao Mengyu’s sword was already at his throat.

    The two stood in the hotel corridor—one fuming, the other frozen in place.

    “What did you do to me just now? Huh? My wounds—? They’re gone!”

    Xiao Mengyu exclaimed in shock.

    “A type of healing technique. It only works when the recipient is unconscious.”

    Xiao Mengyu moved her body slightly, realizing that every injury had vanished. She felt reborn, every cell in her body singing with vitality.

    Power.

    Raw strength surged through her, almost tangible.

    “…I misjudged you.”

    With a trace of apology, she withdrew her sword from Shen Ye’s throat.

    “That guy will be here soon. Can you still fight?” Shen Ye asked.

    He suddenly noticed a new entry above Xiao Mengyu’s head.

    Following “Greatsword Master,” faint characters gradually became clear:

    “Sanctified Protector (Duration: 3 hours).”

    Sanctified Protector?

    What kind of trait was this?

    Could that treatment have granted her a special enhancement?

    As Shen Ye pondered, Xiao Mengyu spoke.

    “I’ve never felt better… I’m going to kill him.”

    “Make sure to find out who’s behind him,” Shen Ye reminded.

    “I already know.”

    Shen Ye froze.

    She hasn’t even fought him yet, and she already knows the mastermind?

    Just as he was about to ask, a smug voice rang out from the far end of the corridor.

    “Haha, found you!”

    Xiao Mengyu immediately stepped in front of Shen Ye, her tone uncertain. “You won’t be able to intervene in this fight—unless you have some powerful combat skill, you’d better stay out of the way.”

    Earlier, she had underestimated him.

    Did he still have hidden combat abilities?

    “You’re right. At this level, I must hide immediately!”

    Shen Ye agreed without hesitation, pushing open a nearby door and slipping inside.

    Xiao Mengyu was stunned.

    —So, his talent is in healing?

    Fine, she could handle this fight alone.

    After all, in her current state, she had surpassed her peak—

    “Charming and beautiful lady, were you waiting for me?”

    A man appeared at the other end of the hallway.

    Xiao Mengyu’s response was a swing of her sword.

    Slash—!

    A colossal sword shadow, two meters wide and seven meters long, tore through the corridor, blasting open the walls as it shot forward.

    The man had reacted fast enough to throw himself to the ground, yet the sword aura still grazed him.

    He reached up to touch his cheek.

    A thin, bloody cut was silently forming.

    “Impossible… You were gravely wounded…”

    The man stared at Xiao Mengyu in disbelief.

    “You didn’t pursue me earlier,” Xiao Mengyu stated.

    “I’m not an idiot—I sensed you had a companion. Besides, he unleashed that freakish power, blowing apart half a building to get you out.” The man shrugged.

    Xiao Mengyu hesitated.

    Him?

    Blew apart half a building?

    No, that couldn’t be him.

    —No time to think about it now.

    “Let’s settle this.” Xiao Mengyu declared.

    The man chuckled.

    “To be honest, your resilience and killing intent make you far more alluring than that pure little lamb.”

    “…I can hardly restrain myself anymore.”

  • A Veteran Player Becomes a Troublemaker Chapter 12

    The wooden swords had broken, and with that, the excitement was ruined.

    “Where did you learn that?”

    “Learn what?”

    “The swordsmanship you just showed me. That rootless, mercenary-like swordsmanship—what is it?”

    ‘Rootless? That’s harsh.’

    But Ian couldn’t refute the comment.

    It was true—his swordsmanship had no formal foundation.

    It was a practical style he had naturally picked up through countless hours of gameplay.

    But precisely because it was born from real combat, it was undeniably threatening.

    The way the sword would dart in menacingly the moment you let your guard down was proof of that.

    “I learned it on my own.”

    “You did?”

    Ian shrugged.

    “So, you called me here to test that.”

    Even though Ian had clearly said he wanted to bond as brothers.

    It seemed Hubert still didn’t trust him one bit.

    “I am the legitimate heir.”

    Hubert continued, looking at Ian as if stating the obvious.

    “Right now, it’s just this much, but as someone who isn’t even recognized as a proper member of the family, you’ll never surpass me.”

    Ian chuckled.

    ‘He’s really trying to provoke me.’

    But he wasn’t particularly angry.

    If things went as Hubert said, it would mean all the problems in Ian’s near future would be resolved.

    And it also meant Hubert had that much confidence in himself.

    “Well, if you become a reliable pillar of the family, I’ll have nothing to complain about.”

    That was sincere. Ian had no desire to suddenly become the lord and deal with all the tedious responsibilities.

    “I’m a bit tired now. I’m going to head back and wash up. If you want to keep training, take it easy and rest when you need to.”

    Ian picked up the broken wooden swords, stacked them in one place, and left the training grounds.

    Hubert stared blankly at Ian’s retreating figure.

    ‘What’s going on? Did he really become a completely different person?’

    The usual inferiority complex was nowhere to be seen.

    If this were any other time, Ian would have hurled every curse imaginable at him for what he just said.

    Had he finally grown up, as their father had said?

    Hubert was confused by this unfamiliar version of Ian.

    A Peaceful Day Interrupted

    One peaceful day, as Ian was going about his usual routine, Oswell and a few knights urgently came looking for him.

    “Young lord!”

    “What is it, Sir Oswell? And why are you in armor?”

    Ian looked at them curiously.

    Unless it was training or an emergency, knights rarely wore armor within the estate.

    “Haven’t you heard? The monsters are starting to rampage!”

    “Rampage?”

    In the untamed lands teeming with monsters, a rampage occurred about once every thirty years.

    ‘Now that I think about it, it’s about that time.’

    A bad feeling settled in his gut.

    “Is that… so?”

    The chances of the monsters heading toward the Schrantz territory were extremely low.

    While it was random, the probability of them going to nearby territories or even north to another country was much higher.

    The odds of them coming to the Schrantz territory were about one in 350 playthroughs.

    That was the result streamers had gotten from extensive testing.

    ‘It should be like that.’

    But Oswell’s urgent expression, his armor, and Ian’s veteran instincts were telling him something was wrong.

    And then.

    “They’re heading straight for the Schrantz territory!”

    [Quest ‘Crisis of Schrantz’ has been triggered.]

    <Crisis of Schrantz>

    Objective: Defend against the monster rampage.

    —A large-scale monster rampage has begun. Stop the monsters heading toward Schrantz.

    Reward: Experience points based on contribution, rewards based on contribution.

    Ian, who had just hit the one-in-350 odds, fell silent for a moment.

    Then he muttered, “I’m about to lose my mind.”

    He couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.

    The Lord’s Meeting Hall

    Inside the meeting hall of the lord’s estate, the vassals sat around the round table with grave expressions.

    Hugo and Hubert were no exception.

    “I’m here.”

    Ian was the last to arrive.

    All eyes turned to him.

    No one was pleased to see him barging into such an important meeting.

    They assumed he was there to ask for his allowance.

    Hugo thought the same.

    “We’re busy right now. If you have something to say, do it later.”

    “I heard about the monster rampage. Of course, I should be here.”

    The room buzzed at his words.

    ‘What’s with their expressions?’

    The fact that he was present at all was shocking to them.

    Ian, who had never shown any interest in the estate’s affairs, was now acting like it was natural for him to be there.

    Of course, as a member of the family, it was only right to be concerned and attend such meetings.

    But this was Ian, who had never done the bare minimum until now.

    His mere presence here was a monumental event.

    Even Hugo, momentarily forgetting the crisis at hand, was wide-eyed with surprise.

    “So, you’ve heard the news?”

    “Yes. Sir Oswell told me.”

    “Your expression says it all.”

    Ian’s face was twisted in frustration.

    Hugo took it as a sign of how serious the situation was, but in reality, Ian was just fed up.

    Why did he have to be the one to hit this absurd probability?

    ‘At this point, it feels like the world is out to get me!’

    But he couldn’t just sit there complaining.

    This situation had to be resolved, no matter what.

    Ian took a seat next to Hugo.

    “How many monsters are we talking about?”

    “At least a thousand. And with monsters like Goblin Champions and High Orc Warriors among them, this is on a completely different level from the previous hunts.”

    “……”

    The feeling of despair was already creeping in.

    The monsters, which were far from weak, were coming in numbers equivalent to a third of Schrantz’s entire population.

    ‘Once it hits the thousands, even defending becomes dangerous.’

    No matter how they tried to stop them, the damage would be significant.

    ‘If it’s 2,000, we should just pack up and run.’

    No matter how much of a veteran Ian was, some things were just impossible.

    An overwhelming numerical disadvantage was a problem that couldn’t be overcome, no matter how skilled they were.

    “Ian seems to be thinking along the same lines. It’s best to assume the worst and plan how to stop them. Does anyone have any ideas?”

    “What if we send someone to the neighbouring territories to request reinforcements?”

    At that suggestion, everyone turned to look at the vassal who had spoken, their expressions a mix of disbelief and exasperation.

    “The neighbouring territories would never help us.”

    “If they did, they’d demand something outrageous in return.”

    “……”

    The territories surrounding Schrantz were all hostile.

    Even if they knew they were next after Schrantz, their reaction would be the same.

    The reason all the neighbouring territories harboured such animosity was due to past events.

    Having plenty of time to kill, Ian had flipped through some history books.

    The saying that Meta Pangaea was “a masterpiece that created a new world” wasn’t for nothing.

    Not only was the game incredibly free-form, but its settings were also absurdly detailed.

    You could find the reasons behind any event in the game’s history books.

    Thanks to that, Ian had a decent grasp of the situation.

    To summarize it in one sentence:

    ‘The ancestors of Schrantz worked hard to sow chaos and create these relationships.’

    That’s right.

    This was all the handiwork of the previous lords of Schrantz.

    They sowed discord between friendly families, threatened other territories for no reason, and extorted them.

    As a result, they were surrounded by enemies and lost all their original territories, leaving only a small piece of land.

    And even then, the neighbouring territories weren’t satisfied and were plotting to completely destroy Schrantz.

    ‘It’s all self-inflicted.’

    From an outsider’s perspective, it was entirely understandable.

    ‘And of course, I’m the young lord of such a family.’

    Ian let out a deep sigh.

    It wasn’t someone else’s problem, so he couldn’t even laugh about it.

    In any case, the neighbouring territories would band together, but the idea of them helping Schrantz wasn’t even worth considering.

    Schrantz was completely isolated, with no one to lend a hand.

    That was the reality of their situation.

    Knowing this, the vassals didn’t even entertain the idea of asking for help.

    “Then what if we…”

    “That doesn’t seem like a good idea either. Maybe we should…”

    “That doesn’t seem right either…”

    The other vassals shared their thoughts, but none of them had a solid plan.

    Even Hubert remained silent, unable to come up with a solution.

    Time was passing meaninglessly.

    “Ian, do you have any suggestions?”

    While quietly listening to their discussions, Hugo turned to Ian.

    He didn’t seem to have high expectations, but they were desperate for any ideas.

    The vassals’ attention shifted to the father and son.

    Ian answered immediately.

    “What if we request help from the imperial family?”

    There was a possibility.

    They wouldn’t just sit back and watch their territory be ravaged by monsters.

    “Do you not know what’s happening in the empire right now?”

    What’s happening in the empire?

    ‘Ah, right. The princes are probably preparing to write a bloody family history, aren’t they?’

    It was only then that Ian realized why no one had suggested this.

    The emperor had suddenly fallen ill, and the crown prince, who was on his way back after hearing the news, had been killed by bandits.

    That was the current state of the Fried Empire’s imperial family.

    While the princes’ infighting hadn’t fully erupted yet, it was clear to everyone what was coming.

    In other words.

    ‘They’re not going to help us.’

    They were too busy with their own problems to care about some backwater territory’s request.

    ‘The real infighting in the imperial family starts in two years. And at the same time, the territorial wars will begin.’

    Even if Hugo survived, the territorial wars were inevitable.

    This was the perfect opportunity for their long-standing enemies to destroy Schrantz.

    In any case, they had to find another solution.

    ‘We have to use everything we can. It’s absolutely impossible with Schrantz’s current strength alone.’

    Where could they find help?

    As Ian mentally mapped out the surrounding territories, a thought struck him.

    ‘Wait. The imperial family? Infighting?’

    A solution seemed to appear.

    He turned to Hugo and asked, “We’re a vassal family of Duke Endran, right?”

    “That’s right… Are you thinking of asking the duke for help?”

    Before Hugo could finish, a sharp voice cut in.

    “Young lord. His Grace the Duke would never move his troops so carelessly.”

    It was Jurdan.

    ‘That’s the general consensus.’

    Duke Endran was currently at odds with Duke Eaton, who was right next to him.

    The two were on such bad terms that a territorial war could break out at any moment.

    ‘But precisely because of the current situation, it might work.’

    If Ian’s understanding of Duke Endran was correct, sending a single letter might be enough to get him to send troops.

    Remembering the imperial family’s infighting, Ian realized Duke Endran was at the forefront of it and came up with this idea.

    There was no guarantee it would work, but in the current situation, there didn’t seem to be any other options.

    “This is an unrealistic and absurd suggestion.”

    But before Ian could explain why he thought of this, his mood soured as his words were cut off.

  • About a Dating Sim Where Dating Is Impossible Chapter 85

    The battlefield was once again engulfed in a cacophony of screams and battle cries.

    The surprise assault from the rear seemed to have unsettled even the Janissaries, disrupting their formation. As a result, the clash of blades, which had nearly come to a halt, gradually regained its intensity. Responding to this, he should have swung his sword, but his legs, once drained of strength, did not recover so easily. All he could do was hold his ground.

    However, the Janissaries were quick to assess the situation. Even in the face of an ambush, victory was assured if they could sever just one head.

    Realizing this, the Janissaries closed in all at once.

    Desperately, he swung his sword, tracing arcs in the air to deflect the incoming blades. Time and again, steel clashed with steel, ringing out in harsh echoes. But it was impossible to fend them off completely with an exhausted body. Each time a piercing, grating sound tore at his ears, fresh scars were carved into his armor. Finally, unable to withstand the impact, he collapsed onto the ground.

    “Haahh!”

    With a loud battle cry, a severed head tumbled onto the bloodstained earth.

    Turning his gaze, he saw a familiar and welcome sight—knights clad in armor, smeared with blood.

    No matter how skilled the Janissaries were, they could not withstand the sheer force of knights clad in plate armor in the chaos of battle. With each mighty swing of their swords, bodies crumpled to the ground. Once the knights had secured the immediate area, one of them approached Constantine.

    “Are you alright, cousin?”

    “Still alive, I see.”

    A hollow chuckle escaped his lips.

    It was the very knight who had once asked if he could call him “cousin” should they survive. It seemed he possessed both skill and leadership, having carved a path through the chaos with a small group of knights. As soon as he grasped the knight’s outstretched hand, his ‘cousin’ effortlessly pulled him to his feet, adding a few lighthearted words.

    “I have fought countless infidels before, but never have I encountered foes as tenacious as these. And never have I seen anyone fight so fiercely as you, cousin.”

    “But thanks to that, we’ve succeeded. You saw the banner, didn’t you?”

    “That’s why I came for you. Let’s get you there, cousin.”

    With that, the knight supported him as they moved together with the other knights.

    Yet, unease gnawed at his mind.

    The sounds of battle, which had briefly flared up, were once again dying down. Though he had no proof, a grim certainty settled in his chest—of the hundred who had charged, only these few remained.

    Among the knights hacking their way forward, there were only six.

    Did that mean the rest had perished?

    Blood flowed freely.

    The blood of comrades and enemies alike pooled on the ground, mingling into a deep crimson swamp. It was bitter. They had clashed swords in the name of faith, in the name of their sovereign, in the name of their homeland—yet in the end, the blood they shed was the same colour.

    Still, he could not afford to falter.

    Though their blood was the same, the convictions within their souls were not.

    As these thoughts took hold, one of the knights leading the charge suddenly crumpled to the ground.

    “Brothers…!”

    With only that brief cry, the knight fell, clutching his bleeding abdomen. His armor had been pierced at the joints.

    And before him stood a Janissary.

    Yet, unlike the others, there was something different about this one.

    From his ready stance to the precision in his movements, he exuded an aura that set him apart. The sword in his hand gleamed like starlight, fueling the ominous certainty in his mind.

    Slowly, he scanned his surroundings.

    The encroaching wall of enemies was impenetrably thick. The knights, their spirits faltering, could no longer break through. Recognizing this, the others instinctively closed ranks, their backs pressed against each other, forming a final stand around Constantine and his cousin.

    Blades glinted from all sides, ready to strike.

    And the Janissary who had felled the knight moved his lips.

    Though the distance was too great to hear clearly, the meaning of his words was unmistakable.

    “Cousin, it seems we shall end this battle in a manner worthy of remembrance in history.”

    “In that case, do not hold me up any longer. At the very least, I should be able to fight with all my strength before I die.”

    “Then I have no regrets! After all, I have called a king my cousin!”

    With those words, the knights and Janissaries clashed once more.

    The knights bore down with sheer force and relentless aggression, seeking to overpower their foes. The Janissaries, nimble and unpredictable, wove through the battlefield, disrupting their opponents with erratic strikes.

    His cousin, no longer supporting him, grasped his sword with both hands and charged headlong into the battle.

    The battlefield still roared with the sounds of hooves and war cries, yet he had a feeling that the battle would end here.

    And so, he steadied his stance.

    So that, at the very least, he could die knowing he had fought to the bitter end.

    He had failed to save the empire, but he could still salvage the last vestiges of his pride.

    Ironically, among the knights, outnumbered as they were, a gap had formed—one that needed to be filled.

    And he would be the one to take that step forward.

    His opponent was not the other Janissaries.

    It was only one man—the one who had felled the knight in a single strike.

    He was strikingly handsome, his face as pale as powdered marble, his sharp nose and well-defined features giving him an almost otherworldly beauty.

    Yet within his cold, expressionless gaze burned unmistakable scorn, fury, and hatred.

    Slowly, the Janissary approached, his pink lips parting to utter words in Greek.

    “You are in quite the pitiful state, Your Highness Dragaš.”

    “So you haven’t forgotten, after all.”

    “Someday, I wanted to have a conversation with Your Highness, so I remembered you.”

    Despite his words, his stance was aggressively ready. His brows furrowed as he stepped forward with his left foot as a pivot, launching himself toward me. With my injured leg, trying to meet his charge head-on to absorb the impact was out of the question. Even supporting my own weight was a struggle. So, I chose to let myself be pushed back, releasing the tension in my trembling legs.

    —Kagagagagak!

    A dreadful screech of metal rang out as my blade clashed with his. Like a serpent flicking its tongue, his sword slowly pressed against mine, forcing me to push back with all my might. If this turned into a contest of strength, I would inevitably be overpowered. Just then, my weakened legs finally gave out, causing my balance to crumble.

    It was a crisis.

    But at the same time, it was my one and only chance to avoid certain death.

    I let go of my sword.

    A bone-crushing impact surged through my shoulder, but I clenched my teeth and rolled away. Fortunately, my opponent did not pursue. He merely pointed his sword at me, his lips curling into a mocking smile.

    “Look at yourself, Your Highness.”

    The honorific was nothing more than a mockery.

    The man, with a crescent moon in his grip, continued to sneer, to scorn, to look down upon me.

    “Who will remember a millennium of glorious history when they see this pitiful sight?

    Drenched in blood, rolling in the dirt, covered in dust—who would recall the brilliance of your past?”

    The battle had already tilted in his favor. The reason was simple.

    “Your legs tremble, having lost their strength. You have even let go of your sword.

    Is this the so-called glory that you noble ones have so desperately clung to?”

    Though our main force had arrived as expected, it was not enough to completely break the enemy’s morale.

    “Now, release your rotting grip on time.

    Let it flow freely. The old era has set, and as is natural, a new one must rise.”

    Like a judge pronouncing a death sentence, he approached with deliberate slowness.

    I had no sword in hand.

    Even if I tried to fight with my bare hands, I had no strength left.

    This was the price I paid for discarding my weapon in a fleeting bid for survival.

    But as long as I had bought even a moment, there was still hope.

    A voice rang out, clear and resolute, refusing to allow surrender.

    “Cousin!”

    A sword flew toward me from the direction of the voice.

    Spinning through the air, it crashed to the ground, rolling between the dirt and blood.

    Both I and the Janissary locked eyes on it.

    Realizing his mistake too late, he rushed forward, but the gap between us was too wide to close in an instant.

    Without hesitation, I seized the fallen sword with both hands, drawing upon strength from an unknown source to rise.

    I met his incoming blade head-on.

    —KAAAANG!

    The clash of steel erupted, sharp and deafening.

    As our blades locked, a grating screech filled the air.

    Amidst the violent friction, the Janissary suddenly cried out in anguish, his voice breaking.

    “You Knew—!”

    We pushed and pulled, neither side willing to yield.

    I couldn’t afford to deflect his blade; if I did, my stance would collapse.

    He, too, was unable to retreat.

    “Why did you come so late?!”

    The battlefield roared once more.

    The uproar suggested that Ivania had done her part well.

    I had to hold on.

    Even though I had failed to protect my people.

  • I Am the Only Tower Master Chapter 2

    Crash!

    Suddenly, I was sucked in with such force that I lost my balance and tumbled to the ground. Grabbing my throbbing knee, I slowly opened my eyes.

    It was pitch black.

    Was this the inside of the tower?

    Cautiously, I took out my smartphone from my pocket and turned it on.

    “Damn, the screen’s a little cracked.”

    The fact that I was worrying about my phone even in this situation meant I was still alive.

    Letting out a dry chuckle, I turned on the flashlight function and brightened my surroundings.

    As the light spread, the first thing that entered my view was a wooden table, seemingly carved from solid wood.

    Above it, bizarrely shaped glass tubes stretched out like cobwebs, sprawling in every direction.

    Though dried up, glass bottles that once seemed to contain liquid were scattered throughout the space.

    …What is this place? A laboratory?

    A creeping sense of dread began to stir in my chest.

    At that moment, sparks flared in the darkness.

    A single, focused beam of light shone directly onto me, freezing me in place.

    —Intruder detected.
    —Name: Kim Yushin. Identified as a “Child of Mana” on the registry.
    —Lifting the dormancy of the Magic Tower.

    A cold, monotonous female voice echoed.

    Then, in the pitch-black void, shimmering particles of light gathered, merging into the form of a woman with closed eyes.

    Her radiant silver hair gleamed like captured moonlight, and her red eyes, regal and alien, confirmed one thing for me the moment they met mine.

    She wasn’t human.

    “I have been waiting for you, Candidate Kim Yushin,” she said.

    “The will of the Magic Tower has deemed you the most suitable individual on your planet to inherit the title of Tower Master.”

    “…What? What do you mean—?”

    She quietly spread her arms.

    Fwoooosh!

    In an instant, the world flipped.

    A brilliant white light swallowed everything, engulfing the darkness entirely.

    When I opened my tightly shut eyes, I was floating in midair alongside her.

    Before us stood a massive tower, stretching into the sky.

    [The Magic Tower was once the supreme institution overseeing the continent of Erendel.]

    We ascended rapidly toward the tower.

    Soaring past its peak, we finally halted in the vast expanse of the heavens.

    The clouds felt almost within reach.

    When I looked down, a sprawling city of an unfamiliar civilization unfolded below.

    [Potions, golems, artifacts, climate control, even dimensions—each floor holds overwhelming knowledge and technology. Every aspect of this continent built upon mana’s power…]

    Wooooong! Wooooong! Wooooong!

    Suddenly, magic circles erupted simultaneously atop every structure in the city—buildings, roads, fountains, even the palace.

    [—all of it belongs to the Magic Tower.]

    “…Oh.”

    I couldn’t help but be impressed.

    The production value was insane.

    [What is it that you desire, Candidate Kim Yushin?]

    She turned to look at me.

    [Do you wish to reign above all? To unravel the truths of the world? Speak your wish. The Magic Tower possesses the power to fulfill it.]

    Fwoosh!

    The light disappeared, and we returned to the dim interior of the tower.

    Was that… a projection?

    “Candidate Kim Yushin. I sincerely hope you will become the 14th Tower Master and lead the revival of magical civilization.”

    She placed a hand over her chest and bowed gracefully.

    “…Uh, um.”

    Honestly, I was overwhelmed.

    This was happening way too fast.

    Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself and asked,

    “…What happens if I become the Tower Master?”

    “You will gain exclusive control over all magic in this world.”

    My mind momentarily froze.

    Magic? That actually exists?

    Ever since the Overlay Incident, Earth had Hunters, sure, but no mages.

    “This world has yet to truly grasp magic,” she added, as if reading my thoughts.

    “If you desire, you may even rule over it.”

    Wait, what? Now we’re talking world domination?

    “Now, Candidate Kim Yushin. Please, give your answer.”

    She looked utterly confident, as if my acceptance was a inevitable conclusion.

    …But wait.

    Shouldn’t I be a little suspicious of all this?

    She was making it sound like an absolute dream—power, wealth, prestige, even world domination.

    But nothing in life comes free.

    There had to be a catch.

    Would I have to sell my soul? Sacrifice my lifespan?

    There were plenty of possibilities.

    As I hesitated, taking my time to think, her previously unreadable expression began to show hints of unease.

    Something smelled fishy.

    I decided to toss out some bait.

    “Can I have a few days to think about it?”

    For a split second, I caught the way her expression stiffened.

    “Question. Why would this require contemplation?”

    “It’s a life-altering decision. I need to consider it carefully.”

    “This is an opportunity granted to only a select few. Please reconsider.”

    …Her argument made no sense.

    “I do not understand. Becoming the Tower Master, the overseer of all magic, is the greatest honor one could attain. What is there to think?”

    …That’s what I’m asking you to explain.

    As I continued to give vague responses, her fidgeting became more apparent.

    Her mask of composure cracked, her fingers anxiously twitching.

    …Honestly, she was starting to look kind of pitiful.

    “Then be honest with me,” I said.

    “I will answer to the best of my knowledge.”

    “What’s the price of becoming the Tower Master?”

    She tilted her head.

    “There is no price.”

    “Nothing like a shortened lifespan, a bound soul, or permanent confinement to the tower?”

    “Negative. Everything remains within Candidate Kim Yushin’s freedom. If you wish, you may become the Tower Master and never return here.”

    For the first time, she looked… a little lonely.

    “So please reconsider…”

    “Are you absolutely sure there’s no cost?”

    “Of course.”

    She didn’t seem to be lying.

    Caution was good, but let’s be real—it’s not like I had much to lose.

    Even if there was a cost, it had to be better than my current miserable life.

    “Alright. I’ll do it. I’ll become the Tower Master.”

    At last, her face brightened.

    “Then, Candidate Kim Yushin. We shall begin the succession immediately.”

    As if afraid I’d change my mind, she quickly stepped forward and placed her hand above my head.

    Wooooosh!

    A flood of knowledge surged into my mind, nearly knocking me off my feet.

    At the same time, the tower’s mana was forcefully pouring into my body.

    “…Kh!”

    It was a sensation unlike anything I had ever experienced.

    Rather than pain from injury, it was an overwhelming and suffocating feeling—an unbearable pressure as something foreign crammed itself into every fiber of my being.

    I couldn’t think straight.

    “Grhh…!”

    A strained groan escaped my clenched teeth.

    If this kept up, I’d lose my mind—no, I might end up a complete wreck.

    It was excruciating.

    I wanted to scream for it to stop, but no voice came out.

    I writhed on the floor, clawing at the walls, desperately fighting against the alien sensation.

    How much time passed like that?

    Finally, the overwhelming surge began to subside, and as I lay there, completely drained, a new player notification popped up before my eyes.

    [You have become the 14th Tower Master.]
    [You have been granted the Tower Master’s privileges.]
    [All ownership of the Magic Tower has been successfully transferred.]

    “Haaah… Haaah…”

    As I pushed myself upright, the silver-haired woman knelt on one knee and lowered her head with reverence.

    “I greet the 14th Tower Master.”

    At that moment, the once-dark Magic Tower flickered to life, its full interior revealing itself before me.

    “…!”

    I was overwhelmed by the sight.

    Like changing into new clothes, the traces of time that had dried and clung over the long years were peeled away, revealing the pinnacle of grandeur.

    The walls and floors gleamed in golden brilliance, exuding the height of luxury. Quiet, medieval European-style furniture filled the space, while radiant chandeliers asserted their presence from the ceiling.

    On the smooth table beside them, a fluorescent liquid flowed along the tangled tubes.

    Though the situation felt utterly surreal, I recalled the last player message I had seen.

    ‘…So this place is mine now?’

    In the era of 21st-century hunters, that was how I became the master of the mage tower.

    After undergoing what she called “succession,” I was experiencing a profound transformation.

    First, I could sense mana more acutely than before.

    Previously, I had only understood and wielded mana as the movement of energy. But now, I could perceive and control even the finest streams and properties of mana flowing through each strand of my veins.

    Additionally, there was a new visual effect—I could now distinguish mana by its light and dark shades.

    Areas glowing with deep blue indicated high mana concentration, whereas dimmer areas held less mana.

    It was a realm of perception I had never experienced before.

    I figured I should check my status window. It was something I did habitually every day, yet today, for some reason, I felt more tense than usual…

    Name: Kim Yushin
    Innate Ability: Sage’s Eye
    Personal Traits: [Child of Mana Lv.1] [Over-Immersion Lv.6] [Analysis Lv.1]
    Basic Stats: [Magic 58] [Agility 8] [Strength 6] [Stamina 5]
    Special Stats: [Focus 3] [Endurance 2] [Intelligence 2]
    Total Stats: [84]
    New Traits: New! [Master of the Mage Tower Lv.10] New! [Magical Engineering Lv.10] New! [Spell Lord Lv.10] New! [Potion Brewing Lv.5]

    They say when people are too shocked, they become speechless.

    That was exactly my state right now.

    My stats remained the same. Clearly, my physical abilities and mana capacity hadn’t changed.

    But four incredibly rare personal traits had been added, and—most shockingly—my innate ability had changed from ‘Detection’ to ‘Sage’s Eye.’

    It was common knowledge that innate abilities were unchangeable. There were exceptions, but they never changed easily.

    At least in Korea, I was likely the first case of such an occurrence.

    …Was this a dream or reality?

    Now that something I had only fantasized about in dreams had become real, I didn’t feel a rush of joy—just stunned disbelief.

    I turned to look at the woman who had made me the master of this mage tower.

    “Does every tower master receive this kind of power?”

    “Affirmative. And from now on, you should speak less formally, Tower Master.”

    “…Ah. R-right.”

    She clasped her hands together and bowed politely. Since we had just met, the formality still felt awkward.

    “Um, listen. I’ve been through so many absurd situations today…”

    “Please speak, Tower Master.”

    “This isn’t some kind of dream or illusion, is it?”

    Without a word, she gestured in the air.

    My smartphone, which had been lying on the floor, flew smoothly into her hand and then into mine.

    “If pinching your cheek isn’t enough, you may check your personal information.”

    “…”

    I turned on my phone.

    A flood of push notifications from a game I had installed for fun, advertisements for loans and illegal sites—all painfully mundane.

    Particularly, my empty messenger app and the insufficient balance alerts from my bank were far too real.

    With a wry smile, I slipped my phone back into my pocket.

    “Yeah. It’s real.”

    “I’m glad you’ve accepted it.”

    “Can I ask a few things?”

    “Of course.”

    My nerves eased. I had countless questions, but first, this one came to mind.

    “Who are you?”

    “I am a homunculus synchronized with the mage tower. I manage and activate all of its functions.”

    “Homunculus?”

    “A magical artificial lifeform.”

    The concept of a homunculus was somewhat unfamiliar, but from what she said, it seemed she was essentially the tower’s controller.

    “What’s your name?”

    “Blank. I have none.”

    Seeing my puzzled expression, she elaborated.

    “Homunculi synchronized with a mage tower are discarded when a tower master changes. A new entity is then created to serve the incoming master. I was born when the tower transferred to this planet ten years ago. Since I have been alone ever since, I have never received a name.”

    I see.

    She had the appearance of a captivating young woman, yet in truth, she was a ten-year-old AI…

    “Then, do you have any memories from before? From the world this tower originally came from?”

    “I have no personal memories, only retained data.”

    Since she was created after the Overlay Phenomenon, that made sense. I nodded and sat down on a nearby sofa.

    Alright, no need to overthink this.

    I decided to focus on enjoying the privileges I had just gained.

    “So, what should I call you?”

    “It has always been the tower master’s right to decide a homunculus’s designation.”

    Naming, huh?

    I was surprisingly good at this kind of thing.

    “How about Homun, since you’re a homunculus?”

    “Rejected. I dislike it.”

    Her refusal was shockingly firm.

    “…Wait, didn’t you just say naming you was my right?”

    “I determined that your lackluster naming sense disqualifies you as a human. Hence, I rejected it.”

    …A completely self-willed AI.

    I pondered for a moment before offering another name.

    “Ah! Since you’re an AI, how about Bixby?”

    “Please wait a moment.”

    She closed her eyes for a brief second before decisively replying.

    “Rejected. I dislike it.”

    “…Why this time?”

    “I refuse to be compared to such a mere scrap-metal AI system.”

    She even had unnecessary pride.

    Wait a second—

    “How do you even know about smartphone AI software?”

    Crossing her arms, she confidently answered,

    “I Googled it.”

    For a moment, I thought I had misheard.

    “I successfully connected to this planet’s internet system over the past ten years to gather information. This world isn’t as dull as I expected.”

    At this point, she wasn’t a homunculus of the mage tower—she was just a walking search engine.

    I sighed and thought of another name.

    “Alright then. Since you’re an AI, how about something simple like ‘Eia’?”

    “…”

    She slowly repeated the name to herself before nodding.

    “Affirmative. I have registered ‘Eia’ as my call name.”

    Thank goodness she accepted.

    Rather than naming her, I felt like I was getting approval for my choice.

    “Alright, Eia. What do I do now?”

    “A homunculus has no authority to interfere with the tower master’s future directives.”

    “Now that I’m the master, aren’t there any responsibilities or obligations?”

    “As I mentioned before, no obligations are imposed on a tower master.”

    So I gained all this power and remained free?

    Nice. Very nice.

    “However, if I may advise you on a future directive, I recommend conquering the world to restore the tower’s authority.”

    There it was again—world domination.

    “Let me ask, what exactly is your definition of world domination?”

    “To subjugate all humans in this world and place them beneath the tower master’s rule.”

    “Hmm, that might be what world domination meant in your world, but here, it’s different.”

    “…?”

    “Here, this is what it means.”

    I made a coin gesture with my fingers.

    “Strength-based conquest is outdated. In a capitalist era, power lies in wealth. Multinational corporations like Google, which accumulate overwhelming capital from across the globe, are the closest thing to world conquerors.”

    “Understood. Then the first goal of the mage tower is to earn money.”

    “…Yeah, let’s go with that for now. But more importantly—”

    Now, onto what I truly wanted to ask.

    “You mentioned magic earlier. Can I use it too?”

    She nodded as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

    “Affirmative. No one on this planet can surpass the tower master in magic.”

  • A doomsday-level returnee devours calamities Chapter 31

    Ito and the Japanese administrators appeared.

    Judging from their conversation, they seemed to be part of Ito’s team. It looked like Ito had taken advantage of his sister being away for a report and had brought his subordinates over as he pleased.

    “By the way, is it really okay to come here so recklessly? The team leader is scary, you know…”

    “It’s fine, it’s fine. I’ll take full responsibility. Besides, it’s not like I’m planning to kill anyone, right? That thing… uh… friendly… friendly…”

    “Do you mean a friendly match?”

    “Yes! A friendly match! That’s what I’m suggesting.”

    “In this situation, I think ‘bimu’ would be more appropriate.”

    “Whatever, whatever! As long as we understand each other, right?”

    “……”

    A quick glance at the group’s expressions showed they were a sight to behold. Yu Gi-jun was glaring at Ito and the Japanese administrators with a face as if he had just swallowed something foul, while Lee Eunha was holding her forehead as if she had already given up.

    Of course, Oh Haeyoung maintained her usual bright expression.

    Having assessed the situation, Taeseong slowly opened his mouth to take control of the conversation.

    “So, you’re saying you want to have a match with me?”

    “Yes! That’s right! Last time, you blocked my sword, didn’t you? But I still don’t get how that was possible! And you see, I’m the type who has to check things out for myself if I don’t understand them.”

    “I see.”

    “Right? Then let’s do it right now—”

    Taeseong cut him off.

    “Did I say I’d do it?”

    “What? You weren’t agreeing?”

    “Of course, I don’t mind doing it. But according to the great Team Leader Yato, you are a highly esteemed Gamma-rank administrator, whereas I am nothing more than a worthless Delta-rank. The outcome is obvious, isn’t it? Why should I engage in a match with no chance of winning? There’s no benefit for me.”

    Ito scratched his head with a blank expression.

    “…Is that so?”

    No doubt about it.

    This guy’s a pushover.

    “Exactly. I have no particular interest in being beaten one-sidedly. However… as a fellow man, I can understand the desire to challenge a strong opponent. So, I have a proposal.”

    “What is it?”

    “I want my comrades to have a bimu with your subordinates as well.”

    “With them?”

    “Yes. They are also Delta-rank administrators, aren’t they? Since we’re doing this anyway, it would be beneficial for both sides to assess each other’s abilities.”

    Ignoring Lee Eunha’s silent but piercing glare, Taeseong looked at Gi-jun and Haeyoung. He could already see their agreement in their eyes.

    “I’ll do it.”

    “That guy’s got guts. I’ll do it too.”

    “……”

    The Japanese administrators also agreed.

    “Alright! Then let’s—”

    “We’re not done yet.”

    Ito frowned, looking increasingly annoyed.

    “What now?”

    “Just having a match like this seems a bit boring, don’t you think?”

    “…Does it?”

    “A goal makes people more determined. If I, a mere Delta-rank, am to fight you with everything I have, I need proper motivation.”

    Ito didn’t quite understand what he was saying, but he nodded as if he did.

    “R-right, makes sense.”

    “Let’s do this like real men. The loser becomes the winner’s subordinate. What do you say?”

    A familiar word must have finally registered, as Ito’s eyes lit up.

    “A subordinate?”

    “Yes, a subordinate. The winner becomes the leader, and the loser follows orders. No matter what the order is. That’s the right of the victor in a fair fight between men. So, what do you think?”

    Like a child savouring a sweet dream, Ito repeated certain words to himself.

    “A fight between men… leader…”

    Then he shouted loudly.

    “Great! The loser becomes the winner’s subordinate! It’s a promise between men!”

    “Excellent. You’re a real man.”

    “Yeah! I’m a real man!”

    Though, he seemed to have the mental age of a ten-year-old.

    His subordinates also seemed somewhat aware of their boss’s intelligence, but none of them showed any concern.

    They must have assumed that, no matter what, Ito wouldn’t lose the match.

    “Lead the way.”

    We followed Ito to the training grounds. As we walked through the corridors, Japanese staff members, busy with their tasks, kept glancing at us.

    Haeyoung, her face tense with nevouseness, whispered in a small voice.

    “Taeseong, what do we do? I’m really nervous.”

    “There’s no need to be. Just do what you always do.”

    “What I always do?”

    “Yes. You already fought Red Mask and survived, didn’t you? That means you’re more than capable of holding your own.”

    “But that time…”

    Before she could finish, Taeseong cut her off. He already knew what she wanted to say.

    “You were lucky? You want to say that, don’t you? But luck is also a part of skill. Oh Haeyoung, you’ve already become strong. And you’ll only get stronger. There’s no need to fear losing. Believe in yourself and give it your all. You didn’t refuse the fight because, deep down, you wanted to test yourself against other administrators from another country, right?”

    “…Yeah. To be honest, I did want to take this opportunity to fight administrators from abroad.”

    “Exactly. If you lose, you’ll learn something from it. If you win, you’ll gain confidence. Either way, you’ll grow. Move forward, and you’ll eventually find your own path.”

    Haeyoung, seeming reassured by Taeseong’s words, answered with a resolute look in her eyes.

    “Yes!”

    Feeling left out, Gi-jun asked in a sulky tone.

    “Captain, don’t you have any words of encouragement for me?”

    “I trust you.”

    “That’s enough.”

    He meant it. In Taeseong’s judgment, Gi-jun was someone who didn’t need his help.

    A raw, unpolished gem.

    Which meant he had to shape himself.

    “I don’t know anymore. Whatever happens, I’m not responsible. Got it?”

    “Yes.”

    “…Are you really confident?”

    Taeseong nodded silently.

    “Alright then. That’s enough. I won’t worry about it anymore. For the record, I’m not participating in this spar. You know I’m not much of a fighter.”

    “Yes. But I do have one favor to ask.”

    “A favor?”

    Taeseong leaned in and whispered his request to Eunha.

    “…Well, that much is fine.”

    “Thank you.”

    While they continued talking, they arrived at the sparring arena.

    It was much larger than the place where Taeseong had previously tested Oh Haeyoung. The walls were made of some special transparent material, likely installed so that spectators could watch from outside.

    “You can use whatever weapon you want, and as long as your brain doesn’t get smashed in, any injury can be healed, so let’s fight like real men!”

    Haeyoung cautiously raised her hand.

    “…Uh, but I’m a woman.”

    “Shut up! If you don’t like it, then be a man too.”

    “…Okay.”

    Looking dejected, she lowered her hand. A female Japanese administrator standing beside her offered some comfort.

    “Just understand. He’s not someone you can have a normal conversation with.”

    “…Thank youuu.”

    Regardless, Ito continued his speech.

    “So, who’s up first? Should we go first?”

    Taeseong shook his head.

    “We’ll go last.”

    “Yeah! The captain’s match should be last. That makes sense. So, who’s going first?”

    Oh Haeyoung hesitantly raised her hand.

    “…Then, may I go first?”

    “Oh! The Epsilon weakling? You want to go first? Good, good! That’s manly! Alright, who’s going up from our side?”

    Excluding Ito, there were three Japanese administrators. Two loud-mouthed men and one quiet woman who had spoken only when comforting Haeyoung.

    The woman who had consoled Haeyoung stepped forward.

    “I will.”

    “Ah! Hello.”

    She had a composed demeanor, with long black hair and bangs reaching her eyebrows.

    “My name is Hattori Miyuki. Delta-ranked. I look forward to our match.”

    “Oh, Oh Haeyoung! I’m Epsilon-ranked. Please take care of me!”

    Miyuki bowed her head, and Haeyoung hastily bowed in return.

    Watching the scene, the two male Japanese administrators whispered in surprise.

    “Miyuki’s being really proactive today.”

    “Yeah. This is the first time I’ve heard her talk this much.”

    Taeseong quietly observed Miyuki.

    She was noticeably calmer than the others.

    There was a high probability that her fighting style was completely opposite to Haeyoung’s.

    ‘If she’s a close-combat fighter, the matchup isn’t bad… But if not, this could be tough.’

    The remaining members moved into an inner room with Ito to watch. The transparent walls allowed for a clear view, and somehow, the sound from the arena was transmitted clearly as well.

    “Do we really need to watch this? The outcome’s obvious, and it’s a waste of time. Seriously, how can an Epsilon-ranked even scratch Miyuki-senpai? Am I wrong?”

    “True. Miyuki is… scary.”

    Finally, Gi-jun, who had been watching in silence, couldn’t hold back anymore.

    “Hey, can you all just shut up and watch? It hasn’t even started yet, but you’re running your mouths like crazy.”

    A Japanese administrator, seemingly the youngest, scowled and turned toward Gi-jun.

    “…What? Some nobodies sure like to talk big. You think this is your living room? Just because you’re Delta-ranked, you think we’re all on the same level?”

    Hearing that, Gi-jun unexpectedly let out a chuckle.

    “…Pfft.”

    “You laughing? This bastard’s got a death wish.”

    “What’s your name?”

    “Hah? What kind of stupid—”

    Gi-jun cut him off, his voice turning cold.

    “I asked for your name.”

    Caught off guard by Gi-jun’s deadly gaze, the Japanese administrator instinctively answered.

    “…Himuro Hitoshi.”

    “Hitoshi. I’ll remember that name. Instead of running your mouth, why don’t we fight next?”

    “Know your place, you—”

    “Scared? If you’re scared, just admit it. I’ll take on the other guy instead.”

    Hitoshi’s face turned bright red.

    He had been an administrator for a long time, but no one had ever taunted him this openly. His emotions were written all over his face.

    Ito spoke up.

    “Alright then. You two are up next. No complaints, Hitoshi?”

    “No.”

    “Enough talking. It’s starting.”

    Haeyoung gripped her pendant, which transformed into a massive axe.

    Ito, intrigued, commented.

    “Oh? That’s a pretty nice weapon for an Epsilon-ranked weakling.”

    “Well, she’s still just an Epsilon.”

    Hitoshi muttered mockingly, and Gijun stared at him intently.

    Hitoshi didn’t avert his gaze. The two locked eyes in silent confrontation.

    ‘She’s using a sword?’

    Contrary to Taeseong’s concerns, Miyuki wielded a moderately sized katana.

    The blade gleamed sharply, exuding an aura of careful maintenance.

    A moment of silence.

    Exchanging a brief glance, the two women launched toward each other at the same time.

  • The Regressed Extra Becomes a Genius Chapter 31

    Sunday morning.

    When I opened my eyes, a message appeared.

    [Character ‘Ha-ryeong’ has developed curiosity about you.]
    [You have earned 1,500 points as a reward.]

    “What is this?”

    If it’s Ha-ryeong, he’s the S-rank Magician I encountered at the underground arena last time.

    But I was wearing a mask then—he shouldn’t have been able to recognize me.

    Why is he suddenly interested in me?

    ‘…Could it be because I bet money on Liang Liang?’

    It’s possible.

    Thinking about it, there was no other reason for Ha-ryeong to take an interest in me.

    ‘But would he really become interested just because I successfully placed a reverse bet?’

    Something about this situation felt off.

    “Hmm…”

    It had already been five days since I visited the underground arena.

    The fact that this reputation message only appeared now meant that Ha-ryeong had found out my identity.

    It was certain that he had investigated me.

    The only fortunate thing was that Ha-ryeong’s emotions toward me weren’t ‘hostility’ but ‘curiosity.’

    At least for now, it didn’t seem like I was in immediate danger.

    After all, Ha-ryeong was known among the Magicians for being calm and cautious.

    “Should I prepare for something?”

    But would preparation even change anything?

    Ha-ryeong was one of the top 20 strongest in this world.

    If he seriously decided to act against me, there would be no way to stop him.

    ‘I should probably cut back on my activities as Kim Jinwoo.’

    That was the best option.

    Lately, my actions as Kim Jinwoo had drawn too much attention.

    Thanks to that, I had earned a ton of points and money, but it was time to lay low.

    Once things settled down a bit, I could resume my activities.

    “Sigh.”

    I let out a deep sigh and got up from bed.

    My sleepiness hadn’t completely faded, and my body was still sore, but I couldn’t just sit around wasting time.

    It was time to start my day.

    After having a hearty meal, I headed to the training facility.

    Normally, I would go to the magic training ground, but today, I had a different destination—the physical training room.

    The reason was simple.

    I needed to compensate for my lack of mana with physical strength.

    Reinforcement-type magic consumed less mana compared to Manifestation-type.

    Since I was currently lacking in mana, I needed to rely more on my sub-specialization, the Reinforcement-type.

    [The door is opening.]

    As I entered the training room, I saw various exercise machines.

    The atmosphere was similar to a gym.

    The space was filled with training equipment and people sweating as they worked out.

    Then, someone called out to me.

    “Huh? Kim Sun-woo?”

    I turned toward the voice and saw a sweaty Lee Seo-jun approaching me.

    “Hey.”

    “Hey. What are you doing here?”

    “What do you mean? I came to work out.”

    “Haha, I see. I don’t think I’ve seen you here before.”

    “I’ve been neglecting my sub-specialization, so I thought I should build up my strength.”

    At my words, Lee Seo-jun looked me up and down before shaking his head.

    “Well, yeah. Your sub-specialization is Reinforcement-type, but look at your body. You need to put on some muscle.”

    “Shut up.”

    “Do you know how to use the equipment?”

    “Of course I do.”

    “Oh, right. You were in the Reinforcement-type in your first year, huh?”

    I smirked in response and started stretching lightly.

    Lee Seo-jun chuckled as well and began lifting a barbell stacked with who-knows-how-many weight plates.

    As I was finishing my stretches, the training room door swung open again.

    A loud voice rang out.

    “Yo! Seo-jun, hey!”

    It was Shin Young-joon, waving enthusiastically as he made a dramatic entrance.

    “Hey.”

    Lee Seo-jun greeted him with a smile, and then Shin Young-joon’s gaze shifted to me.

    “Kim Sun-woo, hey!”

    “…Hey.”

    Satisfied with my response, Shin Young-joon grinned.

    “Oh, Kim Sunwoo. What brings you to the training room?”

    It was the same question Lee Seo-jun had asked earlier.

    I gave the same answer.

    “Came to work out.”

    “Oh, right. Haha!”

    Ignoring his loud laughter, I resumed my stretching.

    By now, my body felt warmed up.

    Time to start with some running.

    Just as I was about to step onto the treadmill—

    The training room door opened once more.

    A woman entered.

    “Oh my, Seo-jun! We meet again.”

    With a seductive smile, she approached Lee Seo-jun and greeted him.

    At the same time, all the students in the room turned to look at her.

    Her dazzling beauty captivated the attention of all the male students.

    She was already a well-known figure among them.

    “Hello, senior.”

    “Are you training well?”

    “Yes, just the usual.”

    Lee Seo-jun replied with a smile.

    Beside him, Shin Young-joon, seemingly mesmerized by her beauty, had his mouth slightly open.

    I also stared at her.

    I recognized her face.

    3rd-year Rank 4, Park Minye.

    “Is the person next to you a friend of Seo-jun?”

    “Yes! Hello, senior! I’m Shin Young-joon, Seo-jun’s best friend!”

    Shin Young-joon bowed his head.

    Park Minye quietly smiled at his energetic greeting.

    Then, she noticed me stretching beside him.

    I met her gaze calmly.

    “Is this person also a friend of Seo-jun?”

    Seo-jun answered her question.

    “Yes, he’s my friend.”

    “Nice to meet you.”

    She greeted me with a charming smile.

    It felt like watching Choi Seo-yoon’s fake smile.

    At that moment, I was slightly startled by the way her eyes looked at me.

    For a few seconds, she stared at me with wide eyes before turning her gaze back to Seo-jun.

    “We’ve been running into each other a lot lately, haven’t we?”

    “Yeah, maybe it’s because I spend a lot of time in the training room.”

    I quietly observed their conversation.

    No, to be precise, I was staring at the girl’s face as she talked to Seo-jun.

    It wasn’t because I was mesmerized by her beauty.

    At a glance, she appeared to be just another eye-catching student, but I knew a secret about her that no one else did.

    Park Minye.
    She was a demon.
    Her real name was Jang Ye.
    The daughter of Jang Han, the demon who died at the Han River.

    Magic Guilds.

    Generally, magic guilds are organizations where skilled mages, regardless of their magical affinity, come together for profit.
    About 90% of mages who graduate from magic academies join these guilds and spend their lives exploring dungeons and towers.

    However, there are guilds established purely for magical research.

    One of the most notable is the support magic guild, “Rune of Enlightenment.”
    Founded by Jung Yoon-seul, one of only five S-rank support mages in the world, Rune of Enlightenment was a dream guild for young support mages.

    At least, it was until a year ago.

    “Oh? What the? Guild Leader? What brings you here?”

    Inside the empty headquarters of Rune of Enlightenment.
    Senior guild member Park Minhee reacted with surprise at the arrival of a certain woman.

    “The guild leader visiting her own guild—what kind of ridiculous question is that?”

    “Wow, it’s been forever since I last saw you. You’re still looking like a twenty-something even though you’re almost fifty next year.”

    “Is that so? And you’re still looking like a fifty-year-old even though you’re in your twenties.”

    “Damn it.”

    The sudden appearance of Guild Leader Jung Yoon-seul after a year drew the remaining guild members to gather and welcome her.

    Jung Yoon-seul was known as an eccentric among mages.

    She had left all her guild responsibilities to the vice guild leader and spent over a year in the Tower of Proof, which had already become a famous tale.

    She scanned the empty guild headquarters.

    “Seems like we’re missing a lot of people. Where’s that brat, Jung Woochan?”

    “Sigh, he quit.”

    “Huh? He quit? Why?”

    “Why else? Because the Guild Leader abandoned the guild.”

    At Park Minhee’s words, Jung Yoon-seul cleared her throat.

    “Ahem, when did he quit?”

    “About six months ago?”

    “…That bastard left without even telling me.”

    “How could he contact you when you never left the Tower of Proof?”

    “Well… that’s true.”

    “And not just him. Minjin, Lee Dohyun, Jo Jungin, Emily, Park Chanhui, and Mason all left too.”

    “What?! Are you insane? Those were our core members!”

    Jung Yoon-seul shouted in disbelief.

    The names Park Minhee just listed were Rune of Enlightenment’s key executives.
    But Park Minhee simply narrowed her eyes at her.

    “That’s why I told you not to neglect the guild.”

    “I thought it would run just fine without me!”

    “When are you going to take responsibility? Or did you give up on the 27th floor of the Tower of Proof?”

    “Are you crazy? Why would I give up? That place pissed me off so much that my competitive spirit is through the roof. I’m definitely conquering it.”

    “Oh, sure. Before you go back, at least officially disband the guild and give me a hefty severance package.”

    “Don’t joke about things like that. It’s scary.”

    “I’m not joking.”

    “…”

    Then, as if remembering something, Park Minhee spoke up.

    “Oh, right. The Magic Academy contacted us yesterday about attending their practical exams. They asked us to send an observer. Should we?”

    “Why would I go there?”

    “Guild Leader, our guild is on the verge of collapse. Of course, we have to go. We need to recruit new members.”

    “It’s fine. The guild won’t collapse. Just announce that I’m back. Everything will be fine after that.”

    Jung Yoon-seul leaned back in her chair and yawned.

    “Sigh. The people who left weren’t just the ones I mentioned earlier. A lot of regular guild members left too.”

    “You’re persistent.”

    “That’s how serious this is.”

    “Hah… When is the exam?”

    “In two weeks.”

    “Two weeks, huh… Fine, submit the application. I might as well check out some promising new disciples.”

    Jung Yoon-seul pulled out her phone and sent a message to Kim Yunjin.

    [Hey, Yunjin. Any support magic students at your school with potential?]

    Late at night.

    A dark aura rose from a mountain behind the Magic Academy.

    A chilling crack echoed in the air, followed by the sound of blood splattering.

    Another life had just disappeared.

    Jang Ye, her hands soaked in blood, picked up her phone.

    “Lord Cheonhae, what do you mean by that?”

    [“We are no longer targeting Kim Jinwoo.”]

    “What are you talking about all of a sudden? What about avenging my father? What about Uncle Baek kang?”

    [“It is an order from Lord Ha-ryeong. Do not touch Kim Jinwoo.”]

    “…”

    Jang Ye bit her lip hard.

    To back off now—what kind of nonsense was that?
    More than that, she couldn’t understand why Ha-ryeong had given such an order.

    Among demons, Ha-ryeong was known for never giving out forcefull commands.

    “I’m not afraid of him.”

    [“Jang Ye, patience. The time will come. Wait for it.”]

    “When will that be?”

    [“I don’t know. But the time will come. And besides, no matter how much we investigate Kim Jinwoo, there is nothing to be found. There is nothing we can do.”]

    Who exactly was Kim Jinwoo that his information remained completely hidden?

    And how had he eliminated Baek kang, a B-rank demon, without a single news report surfacing?

    If a normal mage had defeated a B-rank demon, they would have reported it immediately to the association for a reward.

    “In that case, I need to kill someone else. Otherwise, I won’t be able to quench this fire inside me.”

    [“Who?”]

    “If not Kim Jinwoo, then someone else involved in my father’s death—like the first informant or the association officers who killed him.”

    Jang Ye recalled the names she had seen on the news about the Han River Demon Incident.

    [“Do you even know who those people are?”]

    “I do. Special Operations Team agent Jung Hyunsoo and Magic Academy students Lee Seo-jun, Shin Young-joon, and Lee Hyun-joo.
    I can’t take on Jung Hyunsoo yet, so I’ll deal with the others one by one.”

    [“…If that will calm your anger, do as you wish. But be careful. Especially with Lee Seo-jun. He’s not to be underestimated. You know whose disciple he is, don’t you?”]

    “I know. I’ll wait for the right moment. Right now, I can’t defeat him anyway. And besides…”

    Jang Ye started to say something but closed her mouth and shook her head.

    ‘No way.’

    She recalled the face of Lee Seo-jun’s friend from earlier that morning.

    By sheer coincidence, that young man bore a striking resemblance to Kim Jinwoo.

    For a moment, she had a ridiculous thought—

    What if they were the same person?

    But she quickly dismissed it as nonsense and let out a dry chuckle.

    ‘Impossible.’

    The Kim Jinwoo she had seen on the news had fought at a level far beyond that of a student.

    Even if he had infiltrated the Magic Academy, this wasn’t some spy movie—there was no reason for him to do that.

    ‘It must be a coincidence.’

    She erased all suspicions of Kim Sun-woo from her mind.

  • Gatekeeper Of The Boundless World Chapter 35

    Western outskirts of the city.

    A streak of fire tore through the night, crossing the empty street before coming to a stop in front of Star Fast Food, just across from the Maple Grove Hotel.

    Shen Ye got off the bike and looked into the fast-food restaurant.

    Strange.

    There was no one else inside.

    Only a little girl, about five or six years old, sitting in the corner with a large backpack on her back.

    Hearing the sound of the motorbike, she looked up at Shen Ye.

    Shen Ye gestured to her.

    The girl immediately ran out of the fast-food restaurant, stopping in front of him and looking up nervously.

    Around her neck hung a large pair of red headphones, the ear cups designed with patterns resembling eyeballs.

    A language comprehension exercise was playing through the headphones.

    “Did you call me?”

    Shen Ye asked.

    “It was me—have you seen my mom? I can’t reach her,” the girl said anxiously.

    She was dressed in a red school uniform, patched up all over. Her frame was thin, her hair dry and yellowish, as if malnourished.

    —She looked like she could be blown away by a gust of wind.

    Shen Ye studied her briefly before glancing across the street at the Maple Grove Hotel.

    The hotel was a towering building, dozens of floors high. In the darkness of the night, it loomed like a beast waiting to devour its prey.

    “I’m going to find your mom. Did you call the police?”

    “I got through, but no one answered.”

    “I’ll try.”

    Shen Ye quickly dialed the emergency number.

    Beep—beep—

    The phone rang for a full thirty seconds, but no one picked up.

    …How could this be?

    Shen Ye was momentarily perplexed.

    “Is my mom still alive? Can you help me find her?” The little girl bit her lip, looking up at him.

    Shen Ye asked, “Where’s your dad?”

    “He passed away a long time ago. It’s just me and my mom,” the girl said.

    “In that case, I’ll take you somewhere safe first. Once I find your mom, I’ll contact you.”

    “Where?” the girl asked.

    “Ghostfire, take her to the Mortal Martial Arts Tower, then come back for me,” Shen Ye instructed.

    A soft voice sounded from the bike, “Recalculating route. Route confirmed. Children under twelve, please fasten your seatbelt. Departing now.”

    Shen Ye placed the girl on the bike.

    “I want to see my mom,” the girl said, staring at him.

    “I’m looking for her too,” Shen Ye replied.

    “Her room number is 707, but I can’t reach her, so I was afraid to go.”

    “Alright, I’ll find her, and then we’ll come get you.”

    “I’m scared,” the girl began to cry.

    Shen Ye patted her back and spoke gently,

    “Don’t be afraid. The place I’m sending you is very safe. Later, we’ll take you out for a meal.”

    —The best course of action was to get her to leave here willingly.

    Life was more important than anything else.

    The girl wiped her eyes and studied him carefully, staying silent for a long time.

    Seeing her calm down, Shen Ye let out a sigh of relief and patted the bike.

    “Returning to your side in 5 minutes and 39 seconds,” the bike announced.

    “I’m going to the hotel across the street. Look for me there,” Shen Ye said.

    “Returning to your side in 5 minutes and 40 seconds,” the bike responded.

    “Go!”

    The bike started up, swiftly carrying the little girl away from the area.

    Shen Ye continued to stare at the Maple Grove Hotel.

    “This is a complete waste of time. That girl has nothing to do with you, not even an acquaintance. She could be a burden to you. I can’t understand why you’re helping her,” the skeleton said.

    “Her mother is innocent. She got caught up in this because of me,” Shen Ye replied.

    “Hmph, too soft-hearted. You’ll never achieve great things,” the skeleton scoffed.

    Boom—

    A loud crash came from the hotel, accompanied by faint angry shouts.

    Xiao Mengyu was fighting the “Skinner”!

    —No more waiting.

    But something felt off.

    Ever since entering this district, Shen Ye had felt an indescribable silence.

    No cars on the street.

    No pedestrians.

    Shops had their lights on, but no people inside.

    This place felt like a ghost town.

    Shhh…

    Cold rain fell from the night sky, pattering against the ground with a soft rustling sound.

    Boom—

    Another loud crash.

    Whether it was an illusion or something else, Shen Ye had the unsettling feeling that the hotel had become even darker.

    —It had completely transformed into a dread, ominous black cathedral.

    Each glance at it only deepened his unease.

    But he had no choice.

    So many people had died.

    The assassination threat was still looming.

    If he didn’t investigate today and let it fester in the shadows, was he supposed to live in fear forever?

    —The truth was right in front of him!

    Shen Ye put his phone on silent and slipped it into his pocket before crossing the street and stepping into the hotel lobby.

    There were people inside the lobby.

    Several hotel staff members stood together, all looking at Shen Ye.

    “Hello, are you checking in?”

    A middle-aged woman wearing a “Manager” name tag smiled politely.

    Just as Shen Ye was about to speak, the skeleton’s voice rang in his ear:

    “Be careful, none of them are alive.”

    When it came to matters of life and death, Shen Ye trusted the undead more than anyone.

    He flipped his hand, drawing out Nightfall, and asked,

    “How did you die? Why are you still standing here?”

    —”Dark Whisper” activated!

    The middle-aged woman maintained her smile and explained, “To make the living arrangements more comfortable, our master killed us all, connected us with special threads, and used magic to control our souls, making us act as if we were alive.”

    “Is that so?” Shen Ye asked the others.

    The corpses all nodded.

    “Why haven’t you attacked me?” Shen Ye asked.

    “We were programmed to serve guests to the best of our ability. Our master is busy fighting a strong enemy and hasn’t given us new orders,” the middle-aged woman said.

    “How many more people have died here besides you?” he asked.

    “All of them,” the woman replied.

    “All? As in?”

    “This entire district—everyone here is dead.”

    Shen Ye froze.

    Now he understood the source of the ominous feeling he had earlier.

    Upstairs, the sounds of battle grew even more intense—he could even hear Xiao Mengyu’s sharp cries.

    The fighting was heading toward the top floor.

    Good, this was his chance!

    Shen Ye dashed up the stairs, rushing straight to the seventh floor, stopping in front of Room 707.

    No matter how horrifying—

    He pushed hard against the door.

    The lock broke instantly, and the door swung open, revealing the scene inside.

    Corpses littered the floor, hung from the walls, and were nailed to the ceiling with steel wires, filling the entire room.

    A woman’s corpse lay on the carpet in the center of the room.

    Part of her body was missing, but her face felt somewhat familiar to Shen Ye.

    His heart gradually sank.

    No…

    Stepping over the lifeless bodies, he approached the woman and softly asked:

    “Do you recognize me?”

    The woman opened her eyes and looked at him.

    “Shen Ye, I saw you get haunted while I was on duty,” she said.

    An urge to flee suddenly welled up in Shen Ye.

    But he didn’t move. He simply closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again.

    “I’m sorry… You died because of me,” he heard himself say.

    The woman’s voice was calm.

    “I’m already dead. These things don’t matter as much anymore. Besides, it’s not your fault. But if you’re willing—”

    “Please avenge us.”

    Revenge…

    Shen Ye looked around at the room full of corpses and recalled what the manager had said in the lobby.

    “This entire district… everyone here… died in this place.”

    How many people had that bastard killed?

    “Can you sense the other bodies?” he asked.

    “That’s right. The other rooms are just like this one—no, even worse, packed with corpses,” the great skeleton replied.

    Shen Ye turned his gaze back to the woman and whispered:

    “Don’t worry. The vengeance will be carried out. And… your daughter…”

    “I will make sure she grows up healthy.”

    “I’ll cover all her future expenses.”

    “Rest in peace.”

    The woman listened quietly. A flicker of confusion crossed her face.

    But there was no time to say anything else.

    The ground trembled violently.

    An overwhelming force struck the hotel building, blasting away half of it.

    “Who?!”

    A voice, both furious and alarmed, rang out from the rooftop.

    The great skeleton quickly reported: “Of the two fighting up there, one has suffered a sudden drop in vitality. They’re falling in our direction—right outside the window.”

    Shen Ye’s expression changed.

    The voice on the rooftop belonged to a man.

    Which meant the one falling…

    Xiao Mengyu!

    He rushed to the window and leaped out, scanning the air.

    Sure enough, a woman wielding a sword was plummeting from the sky.

    Her body was covered in gruesome wounds, blood pouring out nonstop.

    Xiao Mengyu’s cold gaze shifted toward him. When she recognized Shen Ye, she was visibly stunned—then relaxed.

    “Her life force is extremely weak,” the great skeleton said.

    “What?!” Shen Ye’s heart dropped.

    He caught Xiao Mengyu in his arms.

    “Kill me now… I don’t want to be tortured by him,” she murmured, barely holding on.

    “Shut up! You’re going to be fine!” Shen Ye snapped.

    Xiao Mengyu stared at him. Sensing his sincerity, she found it both amusing and admirable that someone of his strength had rushed to her aid.

    —Did he think I had no hidden trump cards?

    The injuries, the weakened aura—it was all a bait, meant to lure the enemy in for a counterattack.

    Victory or defeat hinged on that final reversal.

    But plans never keep up with reality. This kid had jumped in, trying to “save” her.

    Naturally, that “Skinner” hadn’t followed.

    Xiao Mengyu was both exasperated and amused. She let out a faint snort.

    “Fine, I’ll let this—”

    Smack.

    Shen Ye delivered a knife-hand strike to the back of her neck.

    Since she was a top-level swordswoman, he worried that a normal strike wouldn’t be enough. He dumped all seven of his attribute points into strength.

    A force of 8.3.

    Hitting the neck of a critically wounded girl—even though she was powerful—was enough.

    Her eyes widened in shock.

    “You—”

    She couldn’t hold on any longer. Her head slumped, and she lost consciousness.

    “It’s fine. I just don’t want you to see my secret,” Shen Ye muttered.

    He caught her sword in one hand and held her in the other, then used Moonlit Deer Step‘s “Evasion” to run along the wall, breaking through another window into an adjacent room.

    Thankfully, his agility had surpassed 10!

    Otherwise, carrying someone while using such a technique would have made him fall.

    As soon as he landed, he activated Moonlit Deer Step‘s “Dash,” burst through the door, and reached the hallway.

    “Door!”

    A door immediately appeared in the corridor.

    Shen Ye carried Xiao Mengyu and dashed through it.

    “Dissolve! Dissolve!”

    The door vanished.

    A second later—

    A figure landed in the room.

    It paused briefly before gliding across the broken doorway like a shadow flowing over the floor, entering the hallway.

    One step too late.

    The door had already disappeared.

    The man saw only an empty corridor.

    This created a misleading assumption, born of experience.

    “Hmm? Hiding?”

    He first showed a hint of surprise, then chuckled.

    “Perhaps you don’t realize… This entire hotel is filled with my eyes and ears. And yet you think you can play hide-and-seek with me?”

    “How amusing.”

    He pulled out a white handkerchief and wiped the crimson off his fingers, speaking leisurely:

    “Very well. I’ll play along.”

    “Now, I’ll start counting. When I reach one… I’ll begin my search.”

    “Ten.”

    “Nine.”

    “…”

  • I Am the Only Tower Master Chapter 1

    “Please take me to Sanggye-dong.”

    When I said that from the back seat of the taxi, the driver widened his eyes in surprise and asked again.

    “Sanggye-dong?”

    “Yes.”

    The driver turned on the meter and stepped on the accelerator.

    “What are you going there for? That gloomy neighborhood?”

    “…Haha, I just have some business to take care of.”

    “Most people avoid that place. You know, because of that strange tower.”

    “That’s true.”

    They called it the Overlay Phenomenon.

    Scholars explained that the sudden appearance of otherworldly monsters and never-before-seen plants on Earth in recent years was due to another world being layered over ours.

    Of course, it wasn’t just flora and fauna that had been transferred to Earth.

    Artifacts from another world.
    Languages from another world.
    Civilization from another world.

    And most importantly, ruins from another world had also appeared.

    Ancient imperial palaces, floating gardens, dragon nests, underwater cities—though they were devoid of inhabitants, they were undeniable remnants of another civilization.

    One such ruin had manifested in Seoul, South Korea.

    A massive tower, which had been transposed along with the Overlay Incident.

    Seoul, already home to Namsan Tower and Lotte Tower, had suddenly gained a third tower. But people didn’t welcome this new landmark.

    “There are so many eerie rumors about it,” the taxi driver said.

    “They say it attracts monsters, or that it’s swarming with creatures planning to invade the world.”

    I nodded. The people who had suffered irreparable losses from monsters had developed a deep hate to anything from the other world.

    In reality, the area surrounding the tower had become a restricted zone due to frequent monster appearances.

    “They say even the military tried to demolish the tower, but no matter what they used—bullets, missiles, you name it—they couldn’t even scratch it!”

    “Amazing.”

    “Judging by your gear, you look like a Hunter. Be careful, alright?”

    I nodded and gave the talkative driver a faint smile.

    There was something I couldn’t tell him.

    I wasn’t a Hunter.
    I was a mage.

    And that tower—
    It’s mine now.

    Six Months Ago

    Ever since the Overlay Incident, when another world overlapped with Earth, humanity had been forced to confront a new predator—monsters.

    Like weeds sprouting in an untended field, monsters would suddenly appear without rhyme or reason.

    And the only ones capable of hunting these creatures—
    Players.

    Like characters in a video game, Players could hunt monsters, gain experience, and grow infinitely stronger.

    However, not all Players could become Pro Hunters.

    Name: Kim Yushin

    Unique Ability: Detection

    Personal Traits:

    • [Over-Immersion Lv.6]
    • [Analysis Lv.1]
    • [Child of Mana Lv.1]

    Base Stats:

    • [Magic Power 56]
    • [Agility 7]
    • [Strength 5]
    • [Stamina 5]

    Special Stats:

    • [Focus 3]
    • [Endurance 2]
    • [Intelligence 2]

    Total Stats: [80]

    “My stats still haven’t gone up…”

    For months, I had been working out at an expensive Player-only gym to increase my Strength.

    I had also been doing intense cardio workouts to improve my Stamina.

    For five months, I had stuck to this grueling regimen.

    Yet my stats refused to budge.

    Two years had passed since I had awakened as a Player, and my growth had been painfully slow.

    I sighed and leaned my head back, exhausted.

    The subway rattled as it moved along the tracks.

    I glanced around at the other passengers.

    Middle school students laughing and chatting while throwing around bizarre slang.
    A father waving to his young daughter on a video call.
    A woman lost in her own world, earphones in.

    Just another ordinary day.

    A day no different from yesterday.

    To me, this was stagnation. A life that refused to move forward.

    …I’m getting all philosophical again.

    Feeling my mood sour, I switched from my depressing status window to my smartphone.

    As always, the top news on the portal site was about famous Hunters.

    [Oracle Guild Team 1, led by Team Leader Kim Hajin, has finally conquered the ‘Shrine of Thunderclap’!]

    [Exclusive: What kind of dungeon was the ‘Shrine of Thunderclap,’ where three guilds had previously failed?]

    [Kim Hajin: ‘The real MVP was our Tank, Cha Young-ho.’]

    [Artifact discovered in the Shrine of Thunderclap: ‘Ring of the Underworld’ estimated value – 70 billion won.]

    I clicked my tongue. Man, I wish I could raid dungeons too.

    It was well-known that the best way for a Player to grow stronger wasn’t through training but through hunting monsters in dungeons.

    I knew that.

    But I was classified as non-combat viable by the Hunter Association, which meant I wasn’t even allowed to enter a dungeon.

    Why?

    Because modern Hunters needed a powerful Unique Ability to be useful in combat.

    And my Unique Ability, Detection, only let me see other people’s status windows.

    If anyone ever tried to tell me, “But isn’t that useful for gathering intel?” I’d respond with a polite smile and say:

    “Then why don’t YOU try fighting monsters just by looking at status windows?”

    …Yeah.

    A completely useless ability.

    I could probably get a desk job as a Guild Scout, but that wasn’t what I wanted.

    I wanted to be a real Hunter—the kind that fought on the front lines.

    I sighed and glanced at my status window again.

    Base Stats:

    • [Magic Power 56]
    • [Agility 7]
    • [Strength 5]
    • [Stamina 5]

    Pathetic stats.

    But if I had one redeeming quality, it was my abnormally high Magic Power.

    Thanks to my trait, Child of Mana, my Magic Power increased just by breathing.

    But here’s the problem—

    Magic Power only amplifies a Player’s Unique Ability.

    If a Fire-based Player had high Magic Power, they could unleash stronger and more versatile flames.

    But for someone like me, whose Unique Ability was Detecting status windows?

    What, was I supposed to read status windows extra hard?

    Utterly useless.

    The only thing I was good at had no purpose.

    Every single person who saw my stats had the same reaction.

    A failed character.
    A warrior build with all stats dumped into Magic Power.
    A status-window-obsessed loser.

    Even so—

    I refused to give up on becoming a Pro Hunter.

    I only had one option left.

    I had to increase my Strength and Stamina until I could brute-force my way into a combat role.

    But without dungeon access, that was easier said than done.

    The subway intercom chimed.

    “This train’s final stop is Sanggye Station. Sanggye Station.”

    I sighed and grabbed my bag as I stood up.

    Outside the window, the tower loomed over the station.

    Alright. No more whining. Time to get moving.

    Sanggye-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul.

    The neighborhood was filled with old, gray buildings.

    Shattered concrete rubble littered the streets.

    This was probably the cheapest place to live in Seoul right now.

    And I was looking straight at the reason why.

    The massive gray tower—the city’s greatest eyesore.

    That tower was said to attract monsters and house a Demon King inside.

    Most of those were just urban legends.

    But one thing was certain—

    The area around the tower was a restricted zone due to its extreme otherworldly influence.

    And the reason I had come here?

    I pulled out my phone and opened a bookmarked page.

    [Monster Hunting Spots]
    – No hunting permits or dungeon licenses needed!
    – How to sneak into a restricted zone without getting caught.

    That’s right.

    I was here to poach monsters.

    And nothing was going to stop me.

    I was beginning to feel the limitations of simple physical training, the Earthly method of growth.

    If the Association wouldn’t permit me to enter dungeons under the excuse of being “non-combat personnel,” then I’d have no choice but to hunt monsters on my own to raise my stats.

    As the sky darkened, I made my way toward the restricted zone.

    Past the gray concrete buildings, I spotted the area in the distance—where foreign trees grew wildly like a jungle.

    It was surrounded by barbed wire and barricades, filled with “No Entry” signs, a clear warning of danger.

    A silent command to turn back immediately.

    I swallowed dryly.

    ‘Alright, let’s go in.’

    I checked my entry point once more.

    The restricted zone wasn’t exactly heavily guarded.

    The monsters here generally stayed within their territory. Occasionally, hunters would enter for cleanup operations, but the creatures kept appearing as if they were respawning endlessly.

    This was why both the government and the Hunter Association had given up on this troublesome land.

    Deploying dozens of official hunters here would be a waste of resources.

    The Association was already struggling just to handle the monsters that appeared directly within major cities.

    Following instructions I’d found online, I climbed a secluded hill, slipped over the barbed wire, and entered the restricted zone.

    Luckily, there were no cameras or guards in sight.

    ‘Alright, time to prepare.’

    I set down my bag and pulled out a white baton-like weapon.

    It had an official name, but I just called it a steel pipe.

    Made from a mixture of monster bones and metal, it was designed to absorb mana.

    Closing my eyes, I focused my mind to the utmost limit.

    I could feel the mana flowing gently within my body.

    Carefully, I intervened in its flow, guiding it as if redirecting the course of a river, slowly channeling it into the steel pipe in my right hand.

    Wooong!

    I felt strength drain from my body as the pipe’s surface took on a faint bluish glow.

    Success.

    This was the fundamental technique of players—Mana Coating.

    By infusing ordinary objects with mana, they could be transformed into deadly weapons against monsters.

    With my preparations complete, I cautiously surveyed my surroundings and began to walk.

    It was around 7 PM now, and the forest, shrouded in darkness, was eerily ominous.

    It wasn’t too late.

    I could still turn back now.

    I forcefully shook off the uneasy thoughts that flickered through my mind.

    The Player Evaluation was fast approaching.

    I had to raise my Strength and Stamina stats before then to escape the “non-combat personnel” designation.

    After that, I could hunt monsters through proper channels and grow stronger.

    I was desperate.

    Rustle. Rustle.

    There was movement beyond the bushes.

    I silenced my footsteps and hid behind a tree, peeking out cautiously.

    A monster!

    Gurma.

    The monster had a face where the eyes, nose, and mouth were arranged without any apparent order, making it look as if its creator had abandoned it midway through. It bounced around with a roly-poly body and used its large, rabbit-like ears as arms to attack people.

    Thank goodness.

    Gurma was considered the weakest, ranked 1 among monsters by players.

    If the monsters in this restricted area had been rank 2 or higher, I would have had no chance.

    I wanted to approach undetected and launch a surprise attack, but it seemed the creature had spotted me first. It twisted its large ears into fists and bounced toward me.

    ‘Stay calm.’

    I remained in place, watching Gurma’s movements until the last moment, then bent backward.

    Whoooosh!

    The attack cut through the air right in front of my eyes, making my hair stand on end.

    It was powerful, but the pattern was straightforward.

    As the next attack came, I dodged by leaning my shoulder back and then—

    Smaaash!

    I swung the steel pipe with full force at its side.

    Its jelly-like body caved in, turning gray.

    -Kururuk!

    Gurma sprang up like a roly-poly and launched a flurry of attacks.

    But at best, it was a repetitive one-two pattern.

    Dodging continuously, I thought about its weak points.

    Besides its side, where else?

    Oh, right.

    I dodged another attack by tilting my head back, then used a tree behind me as a foothold to leap into the air.

    And while airborne—

    Whoooosh!

    I delivered a crushing blow to its head with all my weight behind it.

    With a sickening pop, its jelly-like head burst slightly, and more than half of its upper body turned gray.

    As I landed, I deflected an incoming attack and twisted my body to launch a kick.

    Crunch!

    At last, Gurma’s entire body turned gray before crumbling with a soft fsssh.

    …Victory!

    [Magic power has increased by 1.]

    “Huff! Huff! Hahh!”

    I actually defeated a monster!

    Are you watching, Association bastards? Why am I considered expendable?!

    …Lost in self-congratulation, I snapped back to reality and checked my stats.

    Everything was fine, except that, despite fighting in close combat, my magic power had increased instead of my strength or stamina.

    What a cursed trait.

    Still, at this rate, it wouldn’t be long before my other stats started rising too.

    I got up with renewed vigor and resumed the hunt.

    After getting a taste for hunting, I swung my steel pipe late into the night without realizing the time.

    Today’s gains: +2 magic power, +1 agility, and +1 strength.

    Considering I had seen no progress despite months of intense training, this was an incredibly fast pace.

    ‘Maybe I should stop here for today.’

    Honestly, I wasn’t in the best condition.

    My stamina was fine, but fighting monsters after such a long time must have unsettled the mana inside me. It was boiling unsteadily.

    I wasn’t sure what was happening, but it was a bit frightening. Stories of players dying from mana reflux were all over the internet.

    Deciding to head back, I turned around.

    “…”

    I had been so absorbed in hunting Gurma that I hadn’t noticed my surroundings turning pitch black.

    The skeletal trees stretching out in all directions made the scene eerily ominous.

    Even getting out of here was going to be a problem.

    I turned on my smartphone and checked GPS and the map app.

    I had wandered deep into the forest.

    ‘…Seriously.’

    I knew.

    I was aware of my problem.

    Once I got fixated on something, I couldn’t easily pull myself away.

    There had to be a reason why the first personal trait I awakened as a player was “Over-Immersion.”

    ‘I should hurry.’

    Following the map, I started walking.

    It was so dark that I wanted to use my flashlight, but that might attract other monsters, so I held back.

    Thud.

    Something was under my foot.

    The sensation was completely different from bare ground, and it shot through my brain like an alarm.

    I lifted my foot and stepped down again.

    “…!”

    Bare ground this time.

    Goosebumps ran down my entire body.

    I quickly turned off my smartphone and took a few steps back.

    A low, eerie growl spread through the darkness.

    Damn it!

    This wasn’t another Gurma.

    Without hesitation, I sprinted in the opposite direction of the sound.

    -Kyaaaaah!

    A monstrous screech burst out from behind me.

    I dove into the bushes.

    I couldn’t see properly, so I had to push forward blindly with my arms.

    Scratches from branches stung all over my body.

    Snap! Crash!

    Behind me, entire trees were being broken and uprooted.

    I was being chased by a powerful monster.

    And to make matters worse, the unstable mana inside me was surging even more violently.

    “Huff! Huff!”

    Ragged breaths escaped my lips.

    At least all my stamina training was paying off in this moment.

    But no matter what, I wouldn’t be able to outrun this thing.

    What should I do?

    What can I do?

    Whoosh!

    A gust of wind swept past my back.

    Instinctively, I ducked.

    A chilling sensation passed just over my head.

    Cold sweat dripped down my face as I looked up.

    A black-furred beast had just leapt over me, its fierce eyes locked onto mine.

    This is bad.

    Screeech!

    The hairy monster slid across the dirt, then leaped at me again with agility.

    Cornered, I gritted my teeth and swung my steel pipe.

    Thunk.

    But the monster caught it effortlessly.

    Panicking, I let go and backed away.

    The creature bent the steel pipe in half and tossed it aside as if to mock me.

    …A different league entirely.

    This was at least a rank 3 monster.

    It lunged again, swinging its arm. I barely managed to dodge, but in my haste, I didn’t notice the tree behind me and crashed into it.

    The sudden impact rattled my body, momentarily draining my strength.

    -Grrr…

    Having cornered its prey, the monster came closer, ready to deliver the final blow.

    No weapon.

    No combat abilities.

    My only talent was detection.

    Even as a player, there was no way I could win against this beast.

    “…Urgh!”

    To make matters worse, my mana finally erupted like an active volcano.

    A red warning light flashed in my mind.

    “Huff! Hah!”

    Gritting my teeth, I stretched my trembling hand toward the monster.

    If I didn’t release my mana now, I would explode before the creature even touched me.

    I had to release it somehow.

    I focused on pushing the raging mana out through my palm.

    Unlike when I infused mana into my steel pipe, this time, the wild energy eagerly surged down my arm.

    Then—

    Fwoooosh!

    With a sensation like finally solving a years-old constipation problem, my palm burst with light.

    ‘…What the hell?’

    The mana formed lines, weaving together into a shape.

    Its radiant glow painted the dark void with detailed strokes, forming—

    A massive magic circle.

    Vwooooooom!

    A pillar of light shot from the magic circle, striking the monster directly.

    The beast was engulfed in blinding radiance and sent flying out of sight.

    The sheer force knocked me back as well.

    Thud!

    In the distance, trees crashed to the ground in a chaotic mess.

    ‘…Did I really do that?’

    Dazed, I looked at my palm, then turned my gaze forward.

    Somehow, I had ended up near the gray tower.

    And on its surface—

    The exact same symbol I had just drawn in the air.

    “…”

    Seoul’s disease.

    The monsters’ stronghold.

    All sorts of bad rumors flooded my mind, yet I found myself walking toward it as if drawn by something.

    It wasn’t a rational decision.

    It was pure instinct.

    A certainty—if I didn’t enter now, I would regret it forever.

    Finally, I reached the tightly shut entrance of the magic tower and placed my palm against it.

    Shhhk!

    As if welcoming me, the door swallowed me whole.