Mad Black Mage’s Tower Strategy
Chapter 93
“Did everyone have a good vacation?”
30th floor. The base camp of the volcanic archipelago.
The Tower’s frontline strategy team, which had scattered after taking a brief vacation, gathered again.
Saintess Kwon Ha-yeon, Grand Mage Tsuchimikado Gu-ren, Divine Spear Lee Seo-mun, Sword Star Ju Won-jae, Fist King Choi Gang-hyeon, Divine Archer Yelena, Onmyoji Rei, Holy Knight Robert.
Besides them, there were a few reserve members, but these eight were the ones who mainly moved together.
Originally, Tower Strategy had been structured as national teams competing against each other, but as the advancement to higher floors slowed and magical disasters in reality increased, an alliance transcending national boundaries was formed.
It had already been several years since they started moving together like this.
Some of them got along well, while others were sworn enemies, but whether for better or worse, they had grown attached to each other.
Today was the day when those who had gone on vacation after clearing the 30th floor gathered again.
They weren’t starting the strategy right away, but they would exchange information with each other and begin preliminary preparations for the strategy.
Well, the words sounded grand, but it was time to share what happened during their vacation and foster friendship.
It was a kind of rule that Ha-yeon had established, saying it would be dreary if they only talked about deadly matters all the time.
Since she had set the rule herself, Ha-yeon was the first to speak.
“I briefly went to the lower floors. I was trying to gather some Eternal Snow Ice, but I came back empty-handed.”
The rumor that the boss monster of the 10th floor had been defeated and spring had come to Primgard had quickly spread throughout the entire Tower.
And everyone knew that the supernova was at the center of it.
Ha-yeon mixed in a white lie to avoid getting involved in that rumor and to avoid burdening that person as well.
Only Han Seo-hee, Ella, and a very few high-ranking members of Hanseong knew that Ha-yeon was involved in that incident.
“Then what are we going to do about the heat from now on?”
Yelena, the genius archer from Russia, expressed concern, but it was dismissed by Won-jae’s cold remark.
“Don’t worry. The Eternal Snow Ice is probably piled up in Hanseong’s Tower internal logistics warehouse. We won’t need to worry for a few months.”
It was simple information sharing, but somehow it seemed to reveal Hanseong’s wickedness, so Ha-yeon awkwardly changed the subject.
“Then next is Seo-mun.”
He leaned his back against the wall and spoke.
“I also briefly went to the lower floors. I experienced quite interesting things there.”
The Great Cavity on the 11th floor, which he had visited at his disciples’ request.
The battle with the supernova was a fresh stimulus that awakened his fighting spirit, which had been dormant for a long time.
It would be nice if they could interact often in the future. Since he also had connections with his disciples, they would probably meet again someday.
Following the battle with the supernova, he had also intervened in an incident that occurred among the Great Cavity joint investigation team.
Seo-mun passed the explanation to Gu-ren.
“The mage friend will explain the details.”
“It was just… a farce that wasn’t even funny. Not worth mentioning.”
Gu-ren averted his gaze as if he didn’t even want to mention what happened then.
Although they had exposed the Yellow Dragon’s conspiracy through cooperation with Taebaek, this was not something to be proud of but rather a disgraceful matter for the mage community.
Rather, the bigger problem was.
‘The battle with an unknown existence.’
The fact that he couldn’t even respond properly and had all his magic countered was a huge shock to him.
It wasn’t just a matter of his reputation being tarnished or his pride being crushed.
It was an incident where he felt a fundamental difference in talent and ability.
Of course, if that guy was some great being of the Tower, it wouldn’t matter.
‘But if he’s a climber… and if he’s the rumored guy…’
CREAK-.
Next time they met, he would definitely tear him apart.
Rei read her master’s emotional fluctuations and gently changed the subject.
“What kind of things happened to Fist King?”
At that question, Choi Gang-hyeon spoke indifferently as if nothing particularly special had happened.
“I trained. Outside the Tower.”
There really hadn’t been anything special. Except for a new tenant couple moving into the apartment.
Actually, he wasn’t sure if they were a couple or siblings. There seemed to be quite an age difference.
Still, both seemed interested in exercise, so they might meet again someday.
Afterward, Holy Knight Robert told stories about going to America to visit his sick daughter, and Yelena shared stories about briefly traveling Europe with friends.
Finally, Yelena asked Won-jae.
“What about you?”
At that question, Won-jae recalled the secret meeting he had recently attended.
“I met someone I know. That’s all.”
***
“It’s been a while. Please, sit.”
The reception room of Hanseong Tower.
Sitting across from Chairman Kwon Do-il with a long table between them, Ju Won-jae nodded silently.
POUR-.
A secretary standing beside gracefully poured wine into his glass.
Chairman Kwon Do-il moistened his throat with wine and opened his mouth.
“How is it, is climbing going smoothly these days? I heard about the 30th floor opening.”
“Yes. Kwon Ha-yeon’s help was significant.”
“That thoughtless child always causes trouble for others. How about it? The previous proposal, have you given it any thought?”
The proposal he was referring to was probably about marriage with Kwon Ha-yeon.
He was somewhat interested in her personally, but.
Won-jae answered calmly.
“Well. I don’t particularly mind, but it doesn’t seem likely to happen.”
“Well, that child has no interest in such things at all. But it’s a family matter. That child will eventually comply.”
“……”
He knew well that Kwon Ha-yeon harbored considerable hostility toward Hanseong.
He didn’t know what grounds Chairman Kwon Do-il had for being so confident, but that wasn’t his concern.
Chairman Kwon Do-il changed the subject.
“You must have heard about what happened on the 10th floor?”
“Yes.”
The incident where spring came to Primgard.
The winter that seemed eternal had ended, and the production of Eternal Snow Ice had also stopped.
Chairman Kwon Do-il continued while swirling his glass.
“As you know, the financial loss isn’t much. The real problem is that someone who challenges the system we thought was solid has emerged.”
A cold light flickered in his eyes.
The Association, the government, corporations.
People think these three axes operate by keeping each other in check, but reality is a bit different.
The government itself might be a system that works for the people, but its high-ranking members are ultimately interest groups.
They collude with corporations in the face of profit and keep the Association and climbers in check.
No matter how great the Tower is and how strong the climbers’ power, it doesn’t matter.
After all, climbers are a minority and just powerless individuals outside the Tower.
But these climbers can be portrayed as potential threats if handled well.
Magical disasters and the dangers of magical research occurring in the world.
Various incidents and accidents caused by physical-type climbers.
The sense of deprivation caused by climbers accumulating vast wealth compared to ordinary people.
Using these elements just a little can move public opinion effortlessly.
Squeezing profits from the Tower and pressuring the Association is very easy work.
This isn’t limited to South Korea’s political and business circles.
In such a situation, the Climber Association can survive because of the Tower’s special nature that ordinary people cannot interfere with, and because of the unknown existence called the ‘Administrator.’
But someone who challenges this structure has appeared.
“The supernova was the main character in the 10th floor incident. And Ha-yeon is also involved in this matter.”
The anonymous supernova.
His fame is certainly great, but there’s definitely a temperature difference between inside and outside the Tower.
He still can’t compare to the Sword Star, and due to his anonymous nature, it would be difficult to cause further repercussions.
Nevertheless.
‘If there are seeds of problems, they must be cut out in advance.’
“If you have the time, it would be good to take an interest in tracking him down.”
At this, Won-jae frowned.
“……Leave such things to the hunting dogs. Do I look like someone who does cleanup work?”
“That wasn’t my intention. Just, keep it firmly in mind.”
Chairman Kwon Do-il’s eyes gleamed.
“Just as you use me, I also merely use you. We use each other and get what we want.”
Won-jae’s achievements are certainly great accomplishments worthy of praise.
But it would be problematic to think that his power, fame, and popularity are all products achieved solely through his own efforts.
Behind him, there was always Hanseong serving as a reliable backing.
They found and supported him with anything money could buy.
It was also Hanseong’s power that spread his every action and statement through the media.
Sword Star Ju Won-jae is indeed an existence to be revered as an idol, but he’s ultimately an idol created based on Hanseong’s funds.
So they could be said to have a mutual cooperation relationship rather than a one-sided sponsorship relationship.
No, actually, it could be said that Hanseong holds the hilt of the sword.
If the Sword Star doesn’t listen, they just need to raise a new star.
Chairman Kwon Do-il concluded while hiding such inner thoughts.
“Don’t worry too much about it. Nothing is more important than conquering the highest floors. Let’s have dinner.”
“……”
Won-jae silently cut his meat while looking at Chairman Kwon Do-il sitting across from him.
‘Yes, just as you use me, I also merely use you.’
It’s laughable that he thinks he’s the one holding the hilt of the sword.
‘They… are seriously mistaken.’
They know nothing about the value of the Tower. About its freedom and power, and about its dangers too.
Since they’ve never been to the Tower, they think this world is everything.
Their way of thinking is also confined to the scope of this world.
They consider life in reality, no, outside the Tower important, and think they can hold climbers’ leashes by flaunting that honor and wealth.
But no.
‘It’s the climbers who hold the hilt of the sword.’
There’s already enough food prepared inside the Tower for climbers to consume.
Since there are magical tools and systems, civilization outside the Tower is also not an important issue.
For instance, even if an extreme situation develops where the Tower is sealed, climbers would have very little to lose.
The Tower is another world much larger than Earth with infinite possibilities.
Comparing its size and potential, it’s not the Tower being sealed, but rather Earth being isolated.
On the other hand.
‘Climbers can cause magical disasters in reality.’
This is the opposite of the extremely limited harm ordinary people can inflict on climbers.
If climbing doesn’t continue, greater disasters will occur outside the Tower. More dangerous and widespread disasters will strike.
It’s no different from climbers holding a button that can destroy the outside world at any time.
But they don’t know this danger. They think everything can be solved by just giving money and raising names.
However, there’s no need to enlighten them about this or create awareness.
For now, he’ll just go along with their tune and use their mistaken perception.
From the perspective of wanting the supernova’s expulsion… his position was the same as Hanseong’s.
***
“WHEW.”
Seo-jin exhaled and withdrew his fist.
At his feet, shattered wooden dolls were scattered here and there.
It had taken longer than expected to defeat them.
Hyeon-wol looked at this and spoke as if scolding.
[You acted like you were something special, but it took quite a while.]
“No, I got through because it was me. If it were other guys, they would have been beaten to death.”
[Well, that’s true.]
He had boldly rushed forward first and smashed the head of one guy, but this had no particular effect.
The bodies of the completely shattered guys stuck back together.
It was time reversal, similar to the Lich King’s undead coming back to life.
They weren’t simple wooden dolls but a kind of summoned creature that moved by receiving magical power from inside this room.
The source of that magical power was Seo-jin, the subject of the test.
‘I shouldn’t strike by infusing the internal energy of the Primordial Unity Technique.’
Internal energy would only be used as power for the dolls.
He had to conserve his energy as much as possible to avoid having his internal energy stolen, while maintaining enough striking power to destroy them.
This was a very difficult condition, but it wasn’t that difficult for Seo-jin.
Using resonance and repulsion with the opponent to generate power was precisely the mystery of the Primordial Unity Technique.
THUD-.
Seo-jin picked up the wooden doll’s remains and the core at its center and put them in his backpack.
It was quite a useful item, so maybe Circe could fix it if he asked.
As he was about to leave the room, he saw a hint with incomprehensible meaning written in the corner, like what he had seen in the previous room.
But Seo-jin didn’t pay attention to the hint and looked away.
What use are hints when everything’s already finished?
Seo-jin passed through the wooden doll room and entered the final gateway.
After traveling along the cave for a while, what greeted Seo-jin was a sheer cliff that seemed carved out.
WHOOOOSH-.
And a ceiling that must have been hundreds of meters high.
Through a hole punched in the ceiling, fierce rain and wind were pouring down.
