Chapter 129 – Who Do You Think I Am? (5)
Red Tower Master.
The Magic Tower that supported the Empire.
Its pinnacle.
The title of Tower Master was not granted to just anyone.
It required efforts that cut into your very soul.
At the very least, every genius must surpass a certain benchmark.
Mediocre talent didn’t even stand at the starting line.
Only the geniuses managed by the Empire.
Only they could challenge the name of Tower Master.
But the Red Tower Master was a bit different.
He was not a genius.
He wasn’t even particularly talented.
He was merely an ordinary man.
Yet, he was the Tower Master.
And there was only one reason for that.
It was because of the Purple Tower Master, Han Seojin.
Most of his legacy remained here.
Perhaps because he endlessly tormented the Red Tower.
Perhaps because the Emperor intervened moderately.
Maybe it’s both.
Anyway, after the Purple Tower Master perished together with the Insect Dragon King, the empire began to decline.
It was shocking that such an existence was stopped by merely losing one of the empire’s resources and one talented individual, despite the assistance from dragons and gods.
That was all.
They provided immense support, but losing the Purple Tower Master was more painful for the empire.
Their magic was already inferior to the new circle system established by the Purple Tower Master, and their powers boasted effects similar to the artifacts the Purple Tower Master created out of boredom.
10 years.
The Purple Tower Master revealed himself for only 10 years.
He alone advanced the empire’s development by several centuries.
Even after the Purple Tower Master’s death, the world of magic continued to progress.
The emperor provided support by any means.
However.
All of them paled in comparison to the achievements of the Purple Tower Master.
People began to change.
Rather than pursuing their own research, they started to follow in the footsteps of the Purple Tower Master.
They coveted everything he possessed.
The Emperor tried to mediate, but the trend was set.
All the nobles desired it.
So did the other tower masters.
The Yellow Tower, home of the Duke of Extermination.
They were the worst offenders.
Even the mention of the Purple Tower Master would make them act.
The place that suffered the most from them?
It was the Red Tower.
For some reason, the Red Tower had many of the Purple Tower Master’s remnants.
A great many, indeed.
The Red Tower Master knew the reason.
But he didn’t tell anyone else.
‘How could I?’
He would simply say that it was because the Red Tower was a warm and comfortable place, which the Purple Tower Master frequented.
Han Seojin was a lunatic obsessed with magic.
He researched flames, ice, and lightning, traveling between the Blue Tower, Yellow Tower, and Red Tower.
He did that for nearly 7 years.
Seven years of seclusion training.
Seclusion training sounded nice, but it means exercising and studying in a dark, empty place.
Even in a place full of madmen, no mage did that.
‘I’m going into seclusion for a year!’
When they said that, they usually came back in a day, didn’t they?
But that guy, Han Seojin, did it for 7 years.
A true lunatic.
That’s what mages called Han Seojin.
And it wasn’t wrong.
Anyway, Han Seojin was that kind of person.
He was extremely passionate about magic research, but endlessly lazy about everything else.
A lunatic who ate once every three days because eating was a hassle, and created a cleanliness spell because bathing was bothersome.
And yet...
Why did the Purple Tower Master leave so much behind in this place?
And why did he become the Red Tower Master?
It’s nothing special.
The reason he could become the Red Tower Master was simply because the Purple Tower Master allowed him to cling to this place.
Perhaps it was the price.
The Purple Tower Master occasionally looked at his circle or magic.
So, even though he was mediocre, he could become the Tower Master.
Therefore.
He knew more desperately than anyone.
How incredible the Purple Tower Master’s legacy was.
And that place was what was now called Mongolia.
Including parts of what was once China.
When China merged with the martial world and monsters invaded.
In return for dealing with those monsters, they received some land.
That was now the city known as the Empire’s territory.
The party entered that place.
The image of Mongolia seemed like a grassland, so he thought it wouldn’t be urbanized.
‘It’s more organized than I thought?’
From the plane, it looked as good as any major city.
No, maybe because of the development of magical engineering, it seemed even better.
Some places even seem better than Seoul.
No, it’s definitely better than Seoul now.
Because he messed up the Iron-Blood Sword Clan.
Anyway, they went through the immigration process and moved inside.
“Here, this is the token of the Magic Tower.”
“Token of the Magic Tower?”
“Yes, this is the Imperial Territory, not the old Mongolia.”
That part wasn’t surprising.
The original Mongolia was a country destroyed by monster invasions.
They took in Mongolian refugees and established the foundation of an empire here.
“Recently, there have been some unsettling movements.”
“Unsettling movements?”
“Yes, the servants of evil. A demon comparable to the Insect Dragon King, defeated by the Purple Tower Master.”
The red mage spoke in a somber voice.
“Calling themselves the demon’s minions, they are committing acts of terrorism. Consequently, our empire has intensified its efforts to combat them.”
“So that’s why this token is necessary.”
Shin Yura, understanding, accepted the token given by the red mage tower sorcerer.
“Keep it safe.”
“Yes, professor.”
Han Seojin entrusted it to Shin Yura, then looked at the Red Tower.
A tower rising high.
A sense of intense heat was felt.
The Red Tower belonged to those who wielded flames.
The tower they built had extreme solar energy.
‘How did it turn out?’
Red Tower Master.
His desire was to create an artificial sun.
The previous Red Tower Master had a good wish to achieve it, but he became obsessed and crossed the line.
So, he had to be judged.
What about this guy?
The only time he saw him was when he was young.
Did he change in the meantime, or did he not?
‘I hope he hasn’t changed.’
Because he didn’t want to break his head.
“Professor Han Seojin, please go inside.”
“Okay.”
Han Seojin and the group entered the Red Tower.
There were many people inside.
Even though magic was waning, its usefulness still existed.
That must be why there were many guests.
Inside, there were two statues.
“These are statues honoring the Purple Tower Master Han Seojin and the current Red Tower Master.”
“...Really?”
Seeing the statues, it felt a bit strange.
Shin Yura and Nam Hyerin felt it too.
Those two saw it.
Han Seojin fighting against the Insect Dragon King.
And that scene captured Han Seojin facing the Dragon King.
“...‘ll go see the Red Tower Master then. Let’s go, Mages.”
“...Yes.”
“Yes, Professor.”
Shin Yura nodded.
Nam Hyerin looked at Han Seojin with a worried expression.
“But.”
“Hmm?”
“The Professor won’t cause any trouble, right?”
“...There’s no way, this isn’t Korea or some clan.”
We’re just going to meet the Red Tower Master for a moment. What could possibly go wrong?
BOOOOM!!
The top of the Red Tower.
From there, enormous flames burst forth.
WEEEOOO!! WEEEOOO!!
Fire alarms rang out from all directions.
Nam Hyerin and Shin Yura stared blankly.
Had he caused trouble again because he couldn’t hold back?
The two felt like crying.