Chapter 505 – Ascending the Tower (1)

My limbs are weary, the price for a long respite from activity.
I feel as though I must fill my belly with meat to lubricate my body, an inexplicable ache emanating from my back. Astonishingly, a substantial amount of my mana seems to have dissipated.

‘So that’s why.’

I had wondered why the dream had called me.
It appears the tower had been siphoning my magic.

I turned my head, my gaze falling upon the bed where I had been reclining.
The bed mat was drenched in sweat, a testament to a long period of rest.
Had I failed to awaken, I could have been treated as a mana stone for the tower and its servants.

“Master.”
“Oh, are you roughly prepared?”

Ebony, her arms weighed down by a large bag and adorning a mistletoe bracelet, addressed me.

“Shall we commence our journey?”
“Yes.”

The assault on the tower must continue. We must hasten.

With a rustle, I held the doorknob and exited the room.
The city’s surroundings were in a wretched state.
Ruined concrete and steel structures littered the ground, while numerous supplies were scattered haphazardly.

“What’s this?”

Ebony, who had followed me out of the room, wore a puzzled expression.

“This is a common occurrence. The city, constructed within a dungeon, lacks robust defenses. It occasionally crumbles.”
“Even when there’s no sign of monsters?”
“Yes. That’s something I’m curious about as well. Well, it seems you won’t need your meal ticket.”

I discarded the now redundant meal ticket beyond the stairs. Ebony watched it fall with a look of regret.
Despite the chaos, our current building stood unscathed. Likely, a design of the tower.

“But were the monsters potent enough to breach this place?”
“Sir. Oh, no. The monsters became incredibly powerful when you were deep in slumber.”
“Ah, is that so?”

Ebony, who had been summoned to the dream slightly later, provided valuable information.
My drained mana was utilized to bolster the monsters. That would explain the city’s collapse.
I dispersed my magic, surveying the activities around the tower’s 8th floor.
Signs of life were detected amidst the rubble, but no entities resembling monsters.

‘… I hope they’re safe.’

Se-Young, Star, and Cornus.
Especially Lee Se-Young, who knows I am the king. I tightened my disguise, infusing it with more magic.

Descending the stairs, my eyes scanned the horizon.
The city’s west and north appeared unscathed from this vantage point.
The south was indeterminate, but seeing that only the east, where our shelter was, lay in ruins, it was clear the assault was directed towards my location.

With a creak, a harsh wind blew from the direction of the forest as I descended the stairs.
The bitter winter wind bit into my waist. Reflecting on it, the season was also winter in the dream world.
Ebony, clad in relatively thin clothes, rubbed her arms and hunched her body.

“Come here.”

I encompassed Ebony’s shoulders, enveloping her within my coat.

Small as she was, Ebony fit snugly within the vast confines of the Black Dragon Robe.

“Thank you… Ah!”

-Boom!

Suddenly, a loud feminine voice echoed from the depths of the ruins. Startled, Ebony clutched at my clothes, disappearing into the folds of her own.

“Pl-please, save me… Is anyone there?”

One of the many signs of life detected within the decimated structure.

“I-it’s been two weeks already. I haven’t had anything to drink.”

I located the source of the plea and tapped on the stone obstructing the entrance.

“A hunter?”
“Ah, ah! Please, save me! I’m here. I can’t do anything.”

The woman started sobbing pitifully at the sound of my voice. I decided to question her before attempting a rescue.

“Even with weakened strength, you should’ve been able to clear the rubble easily.”
“I don’t know… I have no mana, and can’t cast any spells.”
“Are you a mage?”
“Yes, yes!”

What to do? Without further ado, I cleared the debris.

Upon using magic, the stone felt lighter than a C-ranked hunter’s. The tower of King Mokryeong, even at the eighth floor, wouldn’t pose an escape challenge for a woman.

Curious to see her face,
I soon unraveled the mystery.

‘It’s completely drained.’

Inside the room, a woman, gaunt to the point of emaciation, was kneeling.

Broken shards of the Mana Stone were embedded in her hands and knees – a clear sign of her attempts to escape. It was evident she had exhausted all conceivable means, including meditation.

“Rise.”
“Ah…”

At my command, the mage, trembling as though she had beheld the World Tree itself, clasped her hands together.

“Name.”
“Ji-ah, Lee Ji-ah. The… owner… of the Purple Mage’s Tower.”

The owner of a Mage’s Tower. She was more formidable than I had presumed.

Judging by her state, her pride and everything else seemed shattered and on the verge of collapse.

“You seem to be in bad shape. Stand up.”

Feigning a benevolent gesture, I extended my hand and infused my mana into her wrist.

“Ah!”

Even if startled, she couldn’t resist. Inspecting Lee Ji-ah’s tottering frame, I quickly found a clue.

‘Her Danjeon is malfunctioning.’

There are different types of mana, one of them being life force. A power beyond human control. In the realm of martial arts, it might be appropriate to refer to it as innate true qi. Unlike the commonly referred mana in the world… once used, this unique power is irretrievable. It bore similarities to the divine powers wielded by the World Trees.

Nevertheless, it seemed fitting to consider this woman’s body incapable of utilizing mana ever again.

“How did this happen?”
“I… I don’t know, cough, cough.”
“Ebony, water.”

Ebony handed water to Ji-ah without any hesitation.

“Here you go, sister.”
“Thank you… cough, cough.”

The woman gulped down the water so hastily that she choked, then wiped her tears and bowed in gratitude.

“Thank… thank you.”
“Well, we’re fellow Koreans after all.”

“…Thank you, thank you. Once I leave… I will surely repay your kindness.”

His words falter, his head bowed. He certainly knows how to express gratitude.

‘A Lord of the Magic Tower… Even outside, it’s a place of respect.’

He is a significant figure, even more so than most guild leaders.
I had heard of the royal purple magic tower before. I was aware of its superior skills in illusion magic and defensive artifacts.

“Did you dream?”
“…Yes. I was researching about dreams, and was exposed to light.”
“So you were confined to that room?”

At my words, Ji-ah, nodding in affirmation, trembled, her body mirroring her sorrow.

“I, too, am unsure of what transpired.”

Reflecting on it, the proportion of victims exposed to the sweet dreams was predominantly wizards.
I wrapped my arms around the woman’s shoulders and patted her once. Lee Ji-ah’s eyes flickered with a faint tremor.

“Ah…”
“Get up. Let’s move.”

After handing her a pill-shaped potion, I emerged from the building.
Lee Ji-ah, who followed, stumbled but was overwhelmed by gratitude.

“Thank you, I am truly grateful… I will repay this debt one day.”

I listened to her words passively.

Although I could have cleaned Lee Ji-ah and healed her injured body, I chose not to.
I had already shown her enough kindness.
Especially considering she was a wizard from the royal purple magic tower, known for its historical raid on Do-won.

“Well.”

Lee Ji-ah, limping slightly, somehow kept up with me.
Perhaps the potion wasn’t working as effectively. It was understandable given her vitality was at rock bottom.
Her current state was eerily similar to being under a magical onslaught.

Perhaps due to the magical stone shards embedded in her feet, her walk seemed uncomfortable.

– Thud, thud.

“Master…”
“What is it?”
“Oh, never mind.”

Ebony, breaking away from my grip to look at Ji-ah, appeared restless.

Initially, Ebony, who scarcely paid attention to others, was now reacting in this way.
Even as I killed, her reaction remained stoic.
I saw it as a remarkably positive shift. It meant that after hitting rock bottom, she was slowly regaining her humanity under my tutelage.

“Hey.”
“…Yes, master.”

At my words, Ji-ah shivered.

‘Well, that’s fine.’

If Ebony pleads for something, there’s hardly anything I wouldn’t do.
When I held Lee Ji-ah’s hand and invoked magic, the filth and dust fell away, and her wounds healed simultaneously.

“…!”

Lee Ji-ah stared at me, her eyes wide.
Her hands trembled, and soon, tears welled up in her eyes.

“I’m grateful, really grateful.”
“You’ll make my ears bleed with your thanks.”

Lee Ji-ah, gripping my hand tightly with her left, wiped her tears with her right hand over and over again.
Ebony, peering out from my embrace, offered me another sly smile.

“Are you satisfied now?”
“Master, thank you.”
“What’s got into you?”
“She reminds me of a friend.”

Now I remember, she had mentioned seeing a friend in her dream.
That could have been a trigger for Ebony.

“Grant such favors only when you have the luxury to,” I advised.
“Yes.”

I knew she wasn’t without discernment.

“Sniff, sniff.”
“How long do you intend to hold on?”

As I posed the question to Lee Ji-ah, who continued to clutch my hand, she startled and abruptly released her grip. Her attire was considerably torn, leaving her highly exposed, yet there were no spare clothes available. If I escorted her to the appropriate city, she would likely fend for herself. I was certainly not doing this out of the goodness of my heart.

– Boom!

Once again, a voice echoed through the air.

“Hello, is anyone there?!”

Myself, Ebony, and Lee Ji-ah halted almost simultaneously.

“Ah,” I sighed, weary.

Perhaps, like Ebony, my heart had softened from seeing Heaven after such a long time.

“Lee Ji-ah.”
“…Yes?”
“Are you able to move? There are no creatures around, so lead everyone here back to the city.”

As I gestured with my hand, the entrances to all buildings radiating with life burst open. Lee Ji-ah, taken aback, questioned me.

“But… who are you…?”

It’s only fair to receive payment for medical services rendered.
After all, I can’t expose my face much.

“Master…,” murmured Ebony, her face softening with a hint of reverence.

– Chuckle.

That satisfaction alone made this ordeal worthwhile.

* * * * * * * * * * *

There were a few pieces of information to gather before ascending the tower.

‘The reason for the collapse of the eastern section of the shelter was indeed due to the creatures.’

And just a few days prior, the 8th floor had been completely cleared of these beasts. The interim association had seized this opportunity to initiate relief activities gradually.

‘The creatures had migrated to the upper floors of the tower.’

The previously swarming high-level monsters had suddenly begun to ascend with determination. The door leading downwards remained closed. Due to this, the chairman of the Korean Hunter Association had deployed personnel to assault the tower and they began to ascend.

‘I see.’

It was at this moment that it was revealed Lee Se-Young and Star had ventured higher.

“Is this information confirmed?”
“Yes.”

Upon her return, Lee Ji-ah’s face had noticeably brightened. Her attire had transformed into something more befitting of a sorceress, and she had managed to collect an impressive amount of information within just 30 minutes. It was a relief to see that she hadn’t taken my kindness for granted.

“We’ll need to make haste then. Gather your belongings.”
“Yes, Master.”

As I began to rise from my seat, Lee Ji-ah held onto my hand.

“Um… this is a map.”
“A map?”

“A map charted by the hunters who had ventured up to the 10th floor. It was mentioned you descended not long ago…you’ll need it to keep pace with the expedition party.”

Impressively prepared.
She could be more capable than initially perceived.

‘And her not probing into my identity.’

Evidence of a shrewd mind. Regardless, it was unmistakable that I had reciprocated beyond a single favor.

“Are you certain this isn’t a falsehood?”
“Why, why would it be?”

A flustered Lee Ji-ah’s hand shook. The reaction was more absurdity than it was alarm. I accepted the map and, without uttering a word, turned away.

“Excuse me.”

She queried just before I stepped out.

“This might not be in good manners. But would you share your guild affiliation… or perhaps your name?”
“Why?”
“Once you leave here, I will treat you in the name of the Purple Mage Tower.”

As if a name is required for such.
If she knew of my royal status, such a statement would be untenable.

“Purple Mage Tower. If I require your hospitality, I can find you, can I not?”
“Will we meet again?”

I shrugged off her regret-filled hand and exited the building. From this point forward,
it was a race against time.

“Master…”

The expression on Ebony’s face, trailing behind me, seemed to be scrutinizing.

“You had a betrothed… “
“I didn’t entice her.”

It was the truth.