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.”
