“Therefore, there’s no need for the Savior to venture outside with dangers before graduating from Shio-ram.”
I wonder if the Tower of Knowledge knows.
That statement sounds so sweet to me.
Once, I was a lazybones who never even tried.
It felt too sweet for someone who was stuck at home playing games and scrolling through video platforms.
I bit my lip and shook my head.
[…There will be many incidents in the future, and if I don’t step in, many people will die.]
“I won’t call it an unavoidable sacrifice. However, if the inexperienced Savior takes the plunge into danger and something happens to him, there will be no future in this world. The Association and the observatory are prepared for that.”
[In that process, I didn’t come away empty-handed. In Shifnaha, I recognized my unique abilities, and I also obtained proof of protection in China.]
“I can’t deny the results, but it would have been done eventually within Shio-ram. Especially with artifacts; there are some that are worthwhile, not only from Shio-ram but also from the Tower of Knowledge.”
[And you might not know, but I have issues with my lifespan. If I just sit around, I might die soon…]
“The Savior might have guessed, but the curse binds your life to the present, consuming the future as your life nears crisis. It also invokes misfortune using your life, so it’s to your advantage to be at Shio-ram, where the curse can be suppressed.”
The mention of a curse made my body stiffen.
The Tower Lord was aware of it as well.
The curse of short life.
As I got used to the observation and conducted detailed internal monitoring, I was getting a grasp of the curse’s effects but…
Hearing for the first time that going outside would chop away at my life and invoke misfortune was startling.
I suddenly felt a sense of unease.
They summoned me to this world.
Not just out of goodwill or by accident, but with a clear purpose.
They even sent a terminal for me.
And that terminal was probably…
[…Did the tower lord not want me to fight? Wasn’t I summoned for that?]
The necklace clinked and spit out a voice.
I clenched the hand on my lap tightly at the sticky emotion that emerged in the voice.
The face of the Tower Lord, which resembled a mask, faltered.
“…Even if the Savior perceives my statement as a vile excuse, I have no rebuttal. Yes, we are the governors who accept the duties of the tower. We hope that the Savior will stop the invasion of the Tower Lord.”
The Tower Lord of Knowledge lowered his head.
“However, we never wish for the Savior to be sacrificed in the end. The potential you possess surpasses that of the three Tower Lords, so after you achieve great success, you should easily be able to repel the invasion.”
The Tower Lord of Knowledge said with droopy eyes.
It felt like a soft approach, as if soothing a child, and the temptation grew stronger.
The Tower Lord is saying —
There’s no need to stubbornly face threats outside.
Just grow safely in your cradle, and once you’re ready, you can fight.
If swallowed, it would definitely be sweet.
[Yes… that’s right]
[If the curse brings misfortune, going outside might be a nuisance…]
“I don’t think so.”
[In China… if I hadn’t gone, the double-headed dragon might not have appeared.]
“That’s a retrospective argument. The issue with the double-headed dragon was something the Necromancy Tower Lord agreed upon; it was merely an incident that would have occurred at some point, and you resolved it in advance, Savior.”
[…Thank you for comforting me.]
Upon my self-reproach, the Tower Lord of Knowledge retorted without hesitation, and a faint smile appeared on my face.
The Tower Lord of Knowledge suddenly checked the corner of my sight and nodded.
Though he’s a stiff person who’s hard to read emotionally, I could somehow feel honesty in his comforting words.
[Actually, I regret not going to Shifnaha. I went outside for no reason, only to struggle for nothing, eventually getting caught up in dungeon rampage and almost dying just for being stubborn…]
I regretted not going to China as well.
I felt like I unnecessarily stirred things up, leading to the double-headed dragon rampaging and people getting hurt.
What can I even do?
How many times did I regret that in Shifnaha, in the hospital?
While handling the letters sent by those I saved, the coldness of the missing arm was so painful.
I don’t want to regret.
Even with that thought, I still headed out.
Even knowing it’s a bad idea, I regretted it repeatedly, thinking maybe I should not have been stubborn.
But…
[Back then, Elia’s brother was there. He consoled me, and if I hadn’t gone, if I had just run away… Elia’s brother would have died too.]
“…Yes.”
[Of course, Elia is a strong person who can bounce back, so she would have gotten over it cheerfully… but she would have been left with an unhealable wound in her heart. That’s why I don’t regret it.]
I’m glad I went there.
I’m really relieved that I didn’t run away.
That I stubbornly, especially, went there is a relief…
[Had I realized late after witnessing Elia’s brother grieving over the loss, thinking I could have saved him if I hadn’t run away, I would have hated myself so much that I might have wanted to hang myself.]
I didn’t regret.
I was glad Elia didn’t lose her family.
At that time, my empty left arm didn’t feel cold.
I hope that continues into the future.
[This thought might just sound like the stubbornness of a kid to you, Tower Lord, but… it’s not impossible, and I don’t want to run from what’s possible. I want to try to do as much as I can so that I don’t regret it later.]
With those words, silence settled in.
In the stillness where even the common wind could not be heard.
Though I spoke fluently, the thought crossed my mind that maybe those were foolish words.
“…Was that too silly of a thing to say?”
If I were to summarize, I’d just complained about wanting to leave the cradle they painstakingly built for me.
They might be fuming on the other side, where the fate of the world is at stake.
I felt a pang of realization and carefully glanced around.
“……”
The Tower Lord of Knowledge stared at me.
Earlier, his emotions were in turmoil, but now his pure white eyes had returned to calmness and blinked.
I swallowed at that gaze, and the Tower Lord of Knowledge slowly closed his eyes.
Then.
“…Yes, I will follow you.”
[Huh?]
He bowed his head towards me.
I didn’t expect him to agree right away over such a statement.
I fidgeted with the necklace doubtfully.
[…I honestly didn’t think it was an efficient idea…]
To be honest, I still don’t have a specific plan.
I feel just as lost about how to handle what will happen next year.
“We are but dependent on the Savior and bear the burden. At the point where we cannot resolve it ourselves, we would not dare to impose demands on the Savior, which would be an ingrate’s act.”
The Tower Lord of Knowledge shook his head firmly.
“What I just mentioned was merely for persuasion. If your opinion is firm, I won’t press further. Instead…”
– Snap
Suddenly, the Tower Lord of Knowledge snapped his fingers.
At the same time, several floating books fell from countless shelves above.
“We may not force you, but it’s our duty to support you. I will assist your growth so that you can return safely from wherever you go.”
He lightly tapped some of the books stacked on the shelves with his slender fingers.
“My specialty is magic. Unlike half-clipped growth of a half-magic user under silence or mid-level elemental support roles, I can provide you with magic that will undoubtedly be beneficial.”
From the moment the word ‘magic’ began, a clear emotion of confidence appeared on the Tower Lord of Knowledge’s face.
“Even after being reclusive in the tower, my achievements in magic have continually progressed, and I will sincerely convey all the knowledge I’ve accumulated throughout my life to you, Savior.”
She proudly puffed out her chest, showing confidence.
‘…Ah, so she loves magic.’
I thought she must take pride in her magic, and it made perfect sense.
After all, she is none other than the first mage who established the Magic Association.
If the achievements amassed by the founder of the Magic Association truly belong to the Tower Lord of Knowledge, that pride is certainly understandable.
[…Thank you for accommodating me.]
“How can I undermine the Savior’s will as an imposition? I will do my utmost as one who wishes to be saved by that goodwill. There are many more stories left to tell… so I’ll share them while you learn magic.”
[But still, thank you, that means a lot.]
Honestly, I felt incredibly thankful.
To be frank, I still have some sticky and sulky feelings, but I acknowledged they were trying to help me in their own way.
Above all, it feels reassuring.
Regarding the colossal incidents to come.
The pressure of how to stop them felt like it would crush me, but realizing the tower lords are here to support me eased a lot of that burden.
[Thank you.]
A smile naturally spread across my face.
It felt like the stiff expression that had been frozen since coming to the floating island was relaxing.
“…Ahem, I feel impoverished to receive gratitude from the Savior.”
The Tower Lord of Knowledge cleared her throat and reached out to me with a hand adorned in purifying magic.
I gently grasped the carefully extended hand.
[Tower Lord… what should I call you?]
“…Ah.”
The Tower Lord of Knowledge let out a small sound of surprise at my question.
It seemed like this question caught her off guard.
“Anyway you feel comfortable is fine… but if it’s okay, please call me Ariel.”
She slowly opened her mouth after blinking blankly.
With a somewhat unfamiliar demeanor, I tilted my head while fiddling with the necklace.
[Sure, I look forward to working with you, Ariel.]
[Please call me Lee Ha-yul as well.]
[The title Savior feels a bit cringy, you know.]
“Yes, Lee Ha-yul.”
The Tower Lord of Knowledge… Ariel nodded.
With that, I also firmly nodded, thinking that this is where the real beginning starts.
…
[Oh right!]
[Did you intentionally curse me to ensure I arrived in this world?]
– She flinched.
At my sudden outburst, Ariel’s shoulders trembled greatly.
It was just a brief moment of confrontation, but her unusual reaction made my expression twist.
“I… anticipated that.”
[……]
“May I have a moment to offer an explanation?”
[Yes, I will listen.]
For some reason, my voice turned stiff.
Her body, which had expressed confidence, also suddenly tensed up.
For a while, Ariel’s explanation… no, justification continued.
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