“As you instructed, Song Soo-Kyung was completely excluded from the report I wrote for the guild master,” Jo Hye-Jin reported.
"Great,” I commented.
“And... I also said that the boy he was looking for must have suffered injuries too gruesome to find and identify among the corpses," Jo Hye-Jin added.
“...”
“...”
“That’s pretty good as well,” I said.
‘So this means I’ll become someone who never existed at all.’
The story of Kim Hyun-Sun and the mute boy ended exactly the way I wanted it to end. I managed to cut things off at the right point, before the bond could grow too strong. Of course, our sensitive Hyun-Sung was blaming himself once again. He was feeling tormented and weighed down once more.
As always, he would shake it off eventually. To be precise, the circumstances around him would force him to stand up again.
‘Drag him back up by the hair if you must...’
Both Lindel and the continent were quickly reorganizing their ranks.
After the Lindel naval battle, the adventurers acted as if the war was over, but when news about the devastation in Heren reached their ears, they regained their sense of urgency upon realizing that the fighting wasn’t done yet.
‘Honestly... it does feel like it’s already over... but that’s actually better.’
I couldn't say anything for sure about the masked scum, but I was sure that Saladin was too weak to wage another great war. For the time being, First Life Ki-Young would likely stay quiet. He had spent too much on the chimeras, and besides... he had to have already sensed the Outer Gods’ presence.
There were already rumors of angels with wings appearing here and there. Whether those were tied to the Outer Gods or not was uncertain, but no one could deny that humanity stood on the verge of another war.
The siege on Heren sparked tension, and the idea that unseen threats had to be faced took root in the hearts of everyone. The Blue Guild’s failure reinforced that, and people began to believe that the end of one war was simply the beginning of another.
That was probably First Ki-Young's goal. If he had contacted the Outer Gods, or even realized their existence, then he had to have believed that humanity had no choice but to strengthen itself.
I could say that for sure because I reached the same conclusion during the second life.
‘Clever as ever.’
With both First Ki-Young and humanity pushing for growth and strengthening their foundation, positive results were inevitable. And of course, Kim Hyun-Sung had to be part of the flow as well.
“The timing really leaves him no choice but to get back up,” I said.
“Yes, you’re right. I still can’t act openly in public, after all,” Jo Hye-Jin said.
“So... is Hyun-Sung doing alright?” I asked.
“To be honest...” Jo Hye-Jin trailed off.
“Yes?”
“He doesn’t seem okay. He’s just pretending to be fine,” Jo Hye-Jin replied.
‘Yeah, I figured as much.’
“He looks like he’s forcing himself to shake it off and move on, which isn’t easy, but... he is a guild master. He doesn't have enough time to process his grief, but I think he’ll pull through,” Jo Hye-Jin added.
‘It’s more than enough time. Some nameless kid died, and he’s been holed up for over a week...’
“How did he react when you came back alive?” I asked.
“He seemed happy, but he was also in disbelief. He also told me that I should hide for as long as possible,” Jo Hye-Jin replied.
‘So he’s not completely thoughtless.’
I activated my Telescope and looked at Kim Hyun-Sung.
‘Is he going to be okay?’
His eyes were still red. Was he crying last night?
‘He’s such a softie.’
“Anyway, it’s the right time for you to join the Magic Tower,” Jo Hye-Jin said.
“...”
“They’ve been recruiting a lot of apprentice mages there,” Jo Hye-Jin added.
“So, preparing for what’s to come?” I asked.
“Yes. Nobody knows how long this calm will last... but everyone sees it as the calm before the storm. Skirmishes with Saladin’s forces are still happening, strange signs and omens are being discovered across the continent... Everyone feels the need to prepare, and prepare again.
"The Blue Guild in this parallel world thinks the same, and that’s probably why the guild master pulled himself back together. The Democratic Country—no, the Empire, the Republic, the Union of Kingdoms, and the Federation are all building up their strength. In a positive direction, of course,” Jo Hye-Jin explained.
“Really?” I asked.
“Yes. It’s because of Saladin’s black mages and chimeras,” Jo Hye-Jin replied.
“So they were attacked, too,” I commented.
Jo Hye-Jin nodded lightly.
‘As I thought.’
They had moved to divide humanity, but now, they seemed to be working to unite humanity as one. No matter how one looked at it, this had to be First Ki-Young’s doing.
“And this tutorial seems to have been conducted on a scale like never before,” Jo Hye-Jin said.
“Which means the recruitment wars will be fierce...” I commented.
“That’s right,” Jo Hye-Jin said.
‘It looks like a break, but...’
That wasn’t the case at all...
“Anyway, I’ll make sure to send a letter with more details about what’s happening here,” Jo Hye-Jin said.
“Okay.”
My short talk with Jo Hye-Jin came to an end just then.
“Well then, sir.”
“Ah... right, right. Looks like they’re on their way. Please look after those guys,” I requested.
“Yes, sir.”
Big Boy, Carlton, and Yoojin appeared right on time. As expected, they looked like they’d already cried their eyes out. Big Boy, still struggling to hold back his tears, was choking and could hardly speak.
“D-Do your best,” Big Boy stuttered.
Carlton wasn’t any different. He looked exactly like a father sending his son off to the army. Seriously, these guys were just too sentimental.
“Don’t worry too much, hyung,” I reassured him.
“W-Who said I was worried? You’ll do fine there anyway. I’ll be waiting every time you come out, so make sure you come out of that tower often,” Big Boy said.
“Okay!”
Yoojin finally couldn’t hold back and turned away, unable to even manage a proper farewell. Wanting to give me one final hug, the three of them surrounded me.
‘You guys are suffocating me.’
A few steps behind, Jo Hye-Jin was watching the whole thing with a smile. Anyway, it was about time to go. The others heading into the Magic Tower were saying their farewells to family and friends as well.
Their age varied. Most seemed to be in their twenties, but there were plenty of kids younger than that, and some looked much older, too.
‘Those folks will probably spend their whole lives as apprentice mages.’
“Prospective apprentice mages, please come to the entrance of the Magic Tower.”
“...”
“Once again, prospective apprentice mages, please proceed to the entrance.”
“Hey, kid. Keugh... Don’t be too lonely without us,” Big Boy said.
‘You guys look lonelier than me.’
“Once again, prospective apprentice mages, please proceed to the entrance.”
“Hyung, I should get going now,” I told him.
“O-Okay. Don’t worry about the hambier meat. I’ll make sure to get you plenty. And you better write a letter every day,” Big Boy said.
‘Am I joining the army or something?’
“Wait, Big Boy. Hey, kid. This is an artifact that increases your magic. I wanted to get you a ring, but those are too pricey... Earrings should be fine, right?” Carlton asked.
“Ah...”
‘How the hell did you guys buy this?’
“Yoojin and I got it together, so take care of it,” Carlton remarked.
“O-Okay!” I shouted.
Naturally, my eyes turned red.
‘These idiots... don’t tell me they took out a loan. They’re broke, and yet... a staff as well as this pair of earrings...’
“Don’t ever let anyone look down on you. You heard from Miss Jo Hye-Jin, right? You’ve got talent... and a goal. Whatever your past was, forget it and just focus on doing your best, alright?” Carlton advised.
“Okay,” I answered.
“Prospective apprentice mages, proceed to the entrance of the Magic Tower!”
‘I still haven’t gone in thanks to you guys, damn it. Don’t you see they’re yelling at us? Shit.’
The Magic Tower guards were glaring at us. And then...
“Hey! Big Boy! Move it already! What the hell are you doing?!”
They even started throwing casual insults. Since Big Boy once worked as a subcontractor for the Magic Tower, many of them were familiar with him.
“Hurry and send your little housemaid over here, you idiot! Damn it!” a guard shouted.
“Just a little longer...” Big Boy mumbled.
“The mages are waiting! Damn,” the guard said.
“Alright, alright! Damn it, I got it! Anyway, kid. Don’t forget what I told you. Don’t ever let anyone look down on you. Even if they say you’re a parentless brat, a kid with no mother or father, some nobody who came from nowhere, don’t let it get to you.
"W-We’ll be your guardians, got it? You understand what I’m saying, right? Just remember that you’re not alone,” Big Boy said.
“Okay, hyung!” I answered.
‘Just go already. You’ll see me again when I come out anyway.’
I tried to step back, but the problem was that these guys wouldn’t let go of my hand. In the end, Big Boy finally released me with his signature reluctant face.
I turned and started walking toward the Magic Tower. I didn't look back, as I knew it would only drag things out.
“...”
“...”
The Magic Tower's grandeur presented itself before me.
“Woaaah...”
Gasps echoed around me. For most, it was their very first glimpse of the tower, as it was off-limits to the public. Strange artifacts floated in the air, and the entrance was crowded with marvels unseen in ordinary cities.
It was completely different from what I’d seen during the war. It looked like something straight out of a fantasy world. Of course, the Magic Tower was different from my second life.
‘In the second life, it looked like this in the beginning, too.’
After Jung Ha-Yan entered the tower, or more precisely, after Han Sora took an active role inside, it shifted into more of a research institute. Robes were replaced by lab coats, advanced artifacts, and Goddess’ Mirrors lined the halls.
It became more practical and functional. Truthfully, there was no reason for those flashy artifacts and magical trinkets to be displayed like this. Moreover, they were just...
‘They're just for show.’
Nothing more..
However, every mage here revealed pride on their faces. In this life, mages had become rarer than ever, unlike in the second life, where they were far more common. In the first life, they were treated like nobility.
Just being part of the Magic Tower gave them that air of superiority.
Just then...
“Miss Jung Ha-Yan is entering.”
At last, I saw First Ha-Yan. She was the symbol of the First Life Magic Tower and the pinnacle of mages.
She looked different from the Jung Ha-Yan I was familiar with, and I had no idea if it was because she had resolved to take the front line after the Battle of Lindel, or if it was because this wasn't her first time doing something like this.
‘W-Why does she look so... normal?’
Her aura was so different that it was disorienting.