I'm the Only Wizard Climbing the Tower - Chapter 105

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B.

Chapter 105: 105

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What was a magic tower, anyway?

Wasn't it basically a treasure vault exclusively for mages, packed with valuable knowledge and items?

And this was the magic tower of those Black Mage bastards.

According to the setting, the Black Mage Tower was a powerful combat force capable of bringing down the Empire. There had to be tons of valuable things inside!

If I helped them win the civil war, then as the leader of their cult, I'd be able to take all the valuable things in the tower...

I'd made up my mind.

'Good. Let's help them. Floor 40 is the Black Mage Tower floor anyway, so I can set things up in advance.'

For reference, Floor 39 was the Imperial Palace floor in the capital.

Floor 40 was the Black Mage Tower floor.

In two days, I'd be heading to the Black Mage Tower.

So if I laid the groundwork now, it'd be much easier to farm loot from the Black Mage Tower on Floor 40 later!

I asked Raphael.

"Raphael Raphael."

"Yes, Prophet."

"If I help you guys, can you win the civil war?"

Raphael answered immediately, as if there was no need to think about it.

"We can win decisively."

"Don't they have some strong guys too? I heard they've got people called High Black Mages."

"High Black Mages. They are powerful individuals who have reached the Fifth Tier, but even so, they wouldn't be able to touch a hair on your head, Prophet. There are two whole tiers between you. Even if the Sect Leader personally stepped forward, I believe you would defeat them without difficulty."

"The Sect Leader? What's that supposed to be? I've heard other Black Mages going on about the Sect Leader now and then."

"They are the leader of us Black Mages and the current master of the magic tower. A Black Mage who has reached the Sixth Tier, Completion. They are also the central figure of the rebel faction."

The rebel faction was led by the Black Mage Tower's High Black Mages.

And their leader was the Sect Leader.

Apparently, the Sect Leader had reached the Sixth Tier.

"The Sixth Tier is Completion for a mage, but with you here, Prophet, at the Seventh Tier, Transcendence... If you help us, we should be able to win without much difficulty."

"Wait, what are these tiers anyway? Explain them to me."

"Ah... As a being of Heaven, you must not be familiar with the tier system used on earth. I shall explain."

"I'm finally getting an explanation out of you. I've asked you several times since we first met! You always just say whatever you want!"

"First, the First Tier is..."

Raphael's explanation went on for a long time.

Put simply, it was a tier list for mages.

First Tier: Apprentice.

Pathetic ordinary mages who had just entered the world of magic.

They'd collapse after firing one or two Magic Bullets.

Most of them worked as trainees or assistants.

Second Tier: Formal.

The stage where one became familiar with magic and was recognized as a proper mage.

This was when they became capable of real combat.

Most mages remained at the Second Tier for their entire lives...

In Hunter terms, they seemed to be treated like ordinary Easy-rank Hunters from the Lower Floors.

Third Tier: Skilled.

Beyond simply copying existing magic, this was the stage where a mage could even modify spells to suit their own purposes.

They could engage in serious combat, develop their own specialty, or excel in research.

In Hunter terms, they felt roughly like Normal-rank Hunters in the Middle Floors.

Fourth Tier: Fully Mature.

The stage where a Third Tier Skilled mage had spent a long time pushing the perfection of their magic to its limit.

It was the limit of growth for ordinarily talented mages.

At the magic tower, they were treated as senior mages.

In Hunter terms, they were about on the level of Normal-rank Hunters in the High Floors.

Fifth Tier: Pinnacle.

The realm a mage born with genius-level talent reached over the course of their lifetime.

They could delve into the very foundation of magic, performing miracles such as silent casting and Dispel.

They were essentially one-person armies.

The Empire only had a handful of such top-tier mages.

In Hunter terms, maybe around an ordinary Hard-rank Hunter.

Sixth Tier: Completion.

Beings who had seen the end of magic as humans.

Even alone, they could shake the course of wars or nations with their own power.

They were effectively treated as natural disasters in human form and respected as equals to the kings of vassal states.

And finally.

Seventh Tier: Transcendence.

"It is a realm from legend. Possessing near-infinite mana, they can destroy anything... It is truly the realm of demigods. And it is also the realm we believe you have reached, Prophet."

"Oh."

"You used powerful magic continuously without the help of a magic formation, using only the mana within your body. With that amount of mana, you must surely be at the Seventh Tier...!"

"Hmm. Is it really that much...?"

I did have a lot of mana.

Still, calling it "infinite" felt like a bit of an exaggeration...

'My current mana pool is enough for 3,300 Fireballs.'

Back on Floor 35, where I'd first met Raphael, it had been enough for 2,500 Fireballs.

I guess a few thousand Fireballs' worth of mana felt infinite to ordinary mages.

The truth was, eleven tactical Fireballs and three shots of Mana Cannon, «Final Spark», would drain me dry.

These ordinary people had such low standards that I must've looked ridiculously powerful to them...!

Well, I was kind of an amazing being.

Anyway.

'If I'm at the Seventh Tier now... I could use silent-cast magic from the moment I became a Hunter. Does that mean I started at the Fifth Tier?'

Silent casting, something only possible at the Fifth Tier, Pinnacle.

Yet I'd been able to do it from the moment I first held a staff.

Like placing pixels in a computer drawing program, I could move Blue Motes tap, tap, tap, and immediately recreate spells.

I could still vividly remember the change in my soul when I first held that staff.

My spiritual senses had stretched in every direction.

I'd moved and arranged the Blue Motes however I wanted.

That was how I could copy the Goblin Shaman's magic without knowing a single incantation.

I'd been using silent-cast magic from the very beginning!

'My master had been really shocked back then...'

As it turned out, that was a Fifth Tier ability.

It was something only a select few genius mages could barely achieve after working their entire lives!

I nodded.

"Hyeji. It turns out I was born different."

"Why are you suddenly saying something so random?"

"I was born as a five-star SSR. Most ordinary people were one-star Commons or Normals."

"?"

"You know how huge the difference at birth is if you've played gacha games. No matter how much money you pour into upgrading a one-star Common, it's hard for it to beat a five-star SSR. And right now, I'm a limit-broken seven-star...! I'm an overpowered card the developers are pushing!"

"I don't play mobile games, so I don't really understand what you're talking about, Jiho."

What did Hyeji even know?

She didn't know memes, and she didn't know games.

I wondered what she did all day.

Did she just sit at home and play with money?

Anyway, I'd reached a conclusion.

"Hmm. Even if the Sect Leader is just an ordinary six-star SR, if it's me, the Extreme Lunatic Hell seven-star Legendary SSR overpowered card, then I can one-shot the magic tower master or whoever they are!"

"Of course."

"Raphael. Try to make sure your Black Mage Sect Leader stays in the tower. I'll deal with them later."

For reference.

The magic tower master wasn't originally supposed to appear in the Tower.

The strongest enemies who appeared were High Black Mages.

The Sixth Tier boss known as the Sect Leader never revealed themself!

Still, I planned to use the fact that my actions interfered with the Tower's history to catch the Sect Leader.

'From the look of things... the magic tower master is basically a hidden boss. Wouldn't killing them give me something good?'

Anything "hidden"...

Was always some insanely good lucky encounter!

That was just how the genre worked.

And the person I intended to catch.

The Sect Leader of the Black Mages.

A hidden boss other Hunters didn't even know existed.

So if I killed them...

I'd probably get something good, right?

'The Sect Leader of the Black Mages... I'm looking forward to it!'

A Sixth Tier would be much stronger than other ordinary people.

I should be able to have a decent amount of fun.

Besides, I could steal all kinds of magic from them.

They'd be a lucky encounter that benefited me in every way.

I had to make sure I killed them without letting them escape.

Anyway, it seemed I'd learned everything I needed to know.

"All right. We've rested enough, so now..."

I slowly stood up and gave the order.

"We must prepare for the great war to come, Extreme Lunatic Hell Armageddon! I, Prophet Baek Jiho, shall requisition all supplies from the academy!"

It was time to farm loot!

* * *

The serious loot farming began.

Iing!

"Iing Iing, you found an artifact? Good work."

Iing iing!

Iing Iing flitted through the air, gathering loot that looked valuable.

"Prophet! These are the alchemy ingredients we found!"

"Gather them together and sort them later. Put them in that corner for now."

"Prophet! These metal ingots..."

"Put the ingots over there."

The Black Mages began emptying the storerooms and workshops throughout the academy.

They worked together, scraping up every last piece of loot.

The haul was pretty substantial.

There were potions, catalysts, Magic Stones, and alchemy ingredients, of course.

"Prophet! We found mid-grade magic tools in the guard unit's warehouse!"

"Artifacts? Oh. Since these came from the High Floors, are they Grade 2 artifacts? We're lucky..."

"Prophet! We found Spatial Bags in this warehouse! Two high-grade ones and eleven low-grade ones!"

"Oh...!"

On top of dozens of small combat artifacts, we found plenty of Spatial Bags and assorted potions.

The haul was far bigger than I'd expected!

I nodded.

"As expected. Since the academy didn't burn down, the amount of loot we can get is considerable. A pile of Grade 2 combat artifacts, and even Spatial Bags with a ten-ton capacity..."

"Jiho, how much did we make this time?"

"Well, Grade 2 artifacts start at ten billion won each, at the very least... I'll use the ten-ton Spatial Bags, but they're valuable items worth at least one hundred billion won each. At a minimum, we made several hundred billion. Maybe even trillions."

"Wow. My god..."

After thoroughly searching the entire academy, so much loot poured out that there was more than we could handle.

We even had to throw away minor materials like Magic Stones and ingots to save room in the Spatial Bags.

'Two newly acquired ten-ton Spatial Bags and eleven one-ton bags. Adding the ten-ton and one-ton bags I already had... I can farm a total of forty-two tons of loot now.'

The Spatial Bags had plenty of capacity.

Still, there was so much loot that I didn't think I could take all of it.

Next time, I should bring more Spatial Bags.

I should ask the National Intelligence Service.

But did they even have any spare Spatial Bags?

While we continued gathering loot...

"Prophet!"

Tap tap tap tap.

Raphael came running toward me in a panic.

He looked anxious, as if something had happened.

He shouted urgently.

"We have found survivors in the academy!"

"Survivors?"

"Yes! Numerous students and faculty members are alive inside a barrier erected by the academy professors!"

Though the academy had been attacked, it seemed plenty of survivors remained because I'd stopped it quickly.

I nodded.

"Really? Looks like there were still some people the War Black Mages hadn't killed. Then tell them the situation is under control and let them out."

I'd already dealt with every War Black Mage who had targeted civilians.

Now they just had to realize they were safe and go home.

But Raphael shook his head.

"That is... they do not seem to trust us."

"They don't trust you?"

"Yes. As you can see... we are Black Mages. They continue to maintain the barrier and remain wary of us, even though we did our best to protect them to the end..."

I glanced over Raphael's clothes.

A black robe.

A staff made of bone.

Red tattoos visible over patches of exposed skin...

He looked like an evil Black Mage in every possible way.

Well.

The Black Mages of the Apostle Society had reformed and repented because of me, making them Holy-Black Mages.

But they still looked like ordinary evil Black Mages.

It was only natural that the survivors were wary.

I shrugged.

"They've put up a barrier and are sitting tight, right? Then can't we just ignore them? Once we withdraw, they'll come out of the barrier on their own."

"But... there are many students inside the barrier. Quite a few are seriously injured. If they remain like that, their lives may be in danger."

"Huh."

Apparently, among the academy survivors holding out inside the barrier...

There were people at death's door.

They needed to lower the barrier and receive treatment immediately.

But they were staying put because they were wary of the Black Mages!

I clicked my tongue.

"You guys should change your clothes later or something. You're reformed Holy-Black Mages, but nobody will trust you if you keep walking around dressed in black!"

"But these black robes symbolize the Black Magic that denies all things..."

"Yeah, whatever. Change into gray or something, just wear brighter colors. Get rid of those weird tattoos too. They look strange."

"These are mana circuits, so they cannot be removed..."

"Take me to the survivors. I'll convince them myself."

The academy survivors.

Honestly, I didn't need to care.

What did it matter to me whether they stayed behind the barrier and their injured people died without treatment?

All I had to do was clear the Tower, take my loot, and leave.

But...

'They're still people. If I can save them, I should.'

After meeting Raphael and the Black Mages, and experiencing the Tower's history change several times...

I'd gradually come to realize something.

The world within the Tower.

It wasn't some artificially created place like a game world.

It was a world that actually existed.

I couldn't know for certain whether each Hunter's Tower world was a different world.

Or a parallel world.

Or a record of the past from another world that had truly existed.

Or part of an ancient civilization preserved by the Tower.

But...

Raphael and the Black Mages before me.

And the survivors hiding somewhere in the academy.

They weren't just NPCs inside the Tower.

They were living people.

How could I turn away from them?

I might look down on everyone but myself as ordinary people.

That didn't mean I was enough of a piece of trash not to care if people died.

If I could save them, I should.

"All right. Lead the way. Where are the survivors?"

"I shall guide you. This way."

Raphael took the lead.

I trotted after him.

The place Raphael led me to was a building tucked away in a remote corner of the academy grounds.

It was particularly shabby among the academy's glittering buildings.

Inside was a space like an auditorium.

Hummmmmm...

Beyond a translucent blue barrier, I saw around a hundred people huddled together.

"You evil Black Mage bastards! You even attacked the academy, the cradle of the Empire...!"

"His Imperial Majesty will not let you go! Prepare your necks for the blade! Before long, you will become bloodstains on the execution ground!"

"Are you not afraid of divine punishment?!"

They shouted at us through the blue barrier.

Most of them looked like young people in their teens or twenties.

But there were also a few elderly people.

The young ones were probably students.

The old folks seemed to be professors.

Thump!

The oldest-looking person among them slammed their staff against the ground and shouted.

"You Black Mage bastards! You've gathered again...! Are you determined to target us until the very end?!"

I looked at the old person in surprise.

'What's with the size of their spiritual wave? It's not as big as mine, but it's huge compared to ordinary people.'

The spiritual wave I felt from them was far stronger than those of other ordinary people!

I'd never seen someone with such a large spiritual wave before.

Raphael whispered beside me.

"That is Albert Cronion, the dean of this academy. He has reached the Fifth Tier."

"Oh. Fifth Tier."

"That is why we have been unable to break through the barrier. Even with several hundred of us, it is impossible to break a barrier that a Fifth Tier high-ranking mage prepared in advance and activated at full power..."

That old person seemed fairly capable, at least among mages.

Looking at the huge magic formation on the ground, it seemed like Albert had spent a long time preparing the spell.

Even considering that, though, it was an incredibly polished spell.

Such a huge and sturdy barrier spell...

I rubbed my chin and muttered.

"That's a pretty complex and precise mana arrangement. It doesn't have much utility, but the range and defense are amazing. I got something good. Let's call this spell AT Shield!"

It was such an elaborate barrier spell that my attention was naturally drawn to it.

It didn't have amazing utility like Protective Aura.

Still, its range seemed relatively easy to expand, so it looked useful for protecting people besides myself.

I'd found a useful spell in a completely unexpected place!

I was lucky...!

While I examined the barrier...

"We are different from the Black Mages who attacked you. We fought the War Black Mages to protect you!"

"Nonsense! All you disgusting, evil Black Mages are the same Black Mages, so what are you talking about? If you intended to deceive us, you should have come up with a more convincing excuse!"

"It's true! We were certainly evil Black Mages in the past, but... after meeting the Prophet, we repented! Look at this person! This is Baek Jiho, our Prophet..."

"What? A Prophet?! You insane, evil Black Mage bastards! Are you trying to establish a new religion by putting forward a fake prophet...?!"

Raphael and the other Black Mages were arguing with Albert beyond the barrier.

I glanced toward the students inside the barrier.

Then I saw them.

"Ugh... Urgh...!"

"Mom..."

"..."

Students lay injured on the ground.

Some groaned in pain.

Others remained silent, perhaps unconscious.

As I looked at them, I thought to myself.

'Hmm. There are quite a few people who are practically dying. If a little more time passes, half of them will die.'

One had a severe wound in the abdomen and was bleeding endlessly.

Another seemed to have suffered burns, with half their skin dyed red.

Another had lost so much blood that their face had turned deathly pale.

They would certainly die soon if left like this.

There were dozens of survivors whose lives were in immediate danger.

Even so...

"Stop! Stop holding out and lower the barrier! The students inside are dying! They need treatment now!"

"You evil Black Mage bastards are shameless to the very end! Are you mocking my dying students?!"

"No, I...!"

Albert kept the barrier up.

The academy dean refused to trust us until the very end.

Well.

If Black Mages came up and said they wanted to save the students, who could believe them?

I wouldn't either.

Of course.

"Hey, ordinary dean. I'll break your barrier for a moment, okay? We need to save those students."

It didn't matter whether Albert believed me or not.

Rather than wasting time arguing and demanding that the barrier be lowered, it would be easier to break it and treat them.

Albert gave a hollow laugh.

"Break my barrier? Hahah... What nonsense! Lackey of the Black Mages! This is a barrier magic formation I spent a long time preparing for any possible emergency! Even your Sixth Tier Sect Leader would need more than a full day to break it..."

"Yap."

I waved my staff and dismantled the arrangement of Blue Motes forming the barrier piece by piece.

Then...

Crack!

Fsssssh...

Like ice cream melting in the midsummer heat, the blue barrier flowed down and disappeared.

Albert cried out in shock.

"What?! How did you break my barrier...?!"

Ignoring the dean, who looked ready to collapse from shock, I cast divine magic and spoke.

"Move aside for a moment, old man. I'm treating the students."

Flash!

Warm, brilliant golden radiance blossomed from my hand.