Chapter 18. Korean Magic Tower
Skills (Awakening Skills).
A popular term used to refer to the superpowers of the Awakened.
It is said that every Awakened learns at least one skill at the moment of awakening.
However, the magic on this planet is still in its infancy, so there are many restrictions.
Uniquely, Earth’s sorcerers can only handle one type of magic that they gain upon awakening.
For instance, Jeong Ha-seong, who uses fire magic, can never learn ice magic no matter how much he trains.
If Earth’s magic users want to use magic of a different type, there is only one way.
They must pay a sum close to the price of a house to buy a Skill Stone, which is a magic tool, to acquire skills of a new attribute.
“If you have no talent, even that won’t activate.”
But anyway.
What’s important is not this.
Things were a bit different here.
I am already a reincarnated soul who has learned all I could about Magic Studies.
In theory, I could use every type of skill existing on Earth as long as I meet the conditions.
“I’m just too much of a genius.”
But the problem is…
I’m currently unable to demonstrate that competence.
In the midst of this, an incident occurred that drew the enthusiastic attention of the S-Class hunters.
“Getting killed by Kang Chang-ho is one thing, but how on Earth did I make Jeong Ha-seong mad too?”
So I thought.
“At this rate, I’ll die in someone else’s planet.”
Thanks to that, I was scrambling to conduct research…
“Your scheduled time has passed, when are you coming?”
I’ll cut to the chase.
After 60 hours of effort, I finally found a way.
A way to use magic.
“I’m so, so sorry for being late! I suddenly had to talk to my company…!”
“Oh, you’re here.”
Currently, my body can’t exchange magic due to a lung problem.
But since my breathing works fine, I could manage a very small amount of magic power within me.
If that’s not enough for casting spells, I can artificially increase it.
“Don’t apologize. You’re here to help, right?”
I’m currently gathering materials for a Magic Power Amplifier.
That’s the reason I came to this building.
“By the way, I’ve long since paid off my previous debts, but I don’t have anyone else to ask for help, so I keep troubling you.”
“No! It’s fine. I have plenty of time anyway.”
Ahn Yoon-seung, panting, said after catching his breath.
“And there’s one more debt. Last time when the EX-Class Gate appeared, you pushed me away to save me, right?”
“Uh, well…”
“I still have a lot of gratitude to repay! Don’t worry about it! Hyung-nim!”
What a truly kind extraterrestrial neighbor.
“Yeah. Anyway.”
I straightened my cheap shirt from Kim Gi-ryeo, my usual attire, and pointed to the building ahead.
“Is it okay if I go in with you and not get kicked out?”
Unlike the square buildings around, the structure was a round cylindrical one.
It resembled a giant tower. I scanned the building’s glass and listened to Ahn Yoon-seung’s voice.
“Yeah! Since the Korean Magic Tower replied to my email, it’s a sure thing.”
Korean Magic Tower.
That’s the name of the organization we’re visiting today.
I remember it being one of the large guilds representing this country.
“By the way, you were really turned away when you came alone yesterday?”
I had visited this place before, just 16 hours ago.
No, you see, I barely found some hit-and-miss materials to make potions, but the gate that produced those materials happened to be privately owned.
“They even buy and sell gates!”
The only way to enter a private gate is to get permission from the owner.
So I searched online and asked the Korean Magic Tower for help, but what did they say at the entrance?
“Um, people in suits popped out and told me to leave. Specifically, they asked for my ID, and when I showed my hunter ID, they suddenly raised their voices…”
My first impression wasn’t great.
I shrugged. Ahn Yoon-seung made a grimace at what he saw.
“This guild doesn’t even look at C-Class hunters, let alone lower. When I said I was an F-Class Awakened, they’d throw me out.”
“Oh, really?”
“Anyway, with so much inconvenience, why did you set the inspection so low…”
Ugh.
Ahn Yoon-seung mumbled something alone and gulped loudly. He looked like he had said something he shouldn’t have.
“Uh, no! It’s nothing! Let’s just go in! I’ve made an appointment under my name!”
“Uh, okay.”
Just now, were you going to scold me for having such a low inspection rating?
‘A person can be F-Class too…’
Apologize to Gi-ryeo…
I slightly shrank back and dropped my head.
Then we entered the building.
‘It’s spacious.’
A wide open lobby.
Shiny, clean marble tiles.
The building is really nice. It’s the people who live inside that are the problem.
“Hey! Ahn Yoon-seung Hunter-nim!”
While I was glancing around, the staff at the entrance recognized A-Class and spoke to him.
I also knew that staff member.
Wasn’t that the security guard who made a sour face when he saw my F-Class hunter ID when I came alone yesterday?
-What’s this, an F-Class? Ha, you must have mistaken this for the recruitment office in the back. This isn’t a place for someone like you. Please leave.
Yet, back then, he had that bug-bitten expression…
“Ahn Yoon-seung! I’ve been following your achievements! I heard on the news that you’re the first to respond to Dungeon Breaks these days? I’m a huge fan!”
The staff was grinning from ear to ear. His attitude was the complete opposite of the last time.
“I always keep clippings of articles featuring you. Oh! Have I held you up too long? What brings you here?”
He watched the situation without saying anything, and soon Ahn Yoon-seung voluntarily revealed our purpose of visit.
“I contacted them through the guild; I have something to discuss with the tower’s representative.”
“Uh, is the guild master at headquarters today?”
“They said so in the reply.”
A company that mainly sources its income from hunter activities.
In industry jargon, that’s a guild.
Among them, the Korean Magic Tower has many affiliated hunters, but ultimately, the power center rests in one person.
We were set to meet the representative of the Korean Magic Tower today.
“Surely it’s Ahn Yoon-seung Hunter! The representative gets swamped with people wanting to meet, so you can’t just walk in.”
The guard was ecstatic, repeatedly praising the A-Class hunter, causing Yoon-seung to chuckle awkwardly.
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“Then, before you enter, please wear a visitor’s badge. Here you go.”
“Don’t you have another? There are two of us.”
But…
I dreaded this moment but suspected that this guard, lost in thought about Ahn Yoon-seung, completely forgot about me.
“Two?”
The guard looked shocked and glanced around.
“Wait, doesn’t it feel like I’ve seen this person before…?”
Then he spotted me and crinkled his brow. It looked like he was slowly remembering something.
Like, someone with those broad shoulders had shoved somebody, or scoffed at my hunter ID mockingly…
You know, those kinds of memories.
“Ugh!”
Did you remember now?
The guard’s expression hardened instantly. But I didn’t mind and waved my hand in greeting.
“Hello!”
As Ahn Yoon-seung added that he’s an acquaintance of mine, the guard’s gaze became unstable.
“Th-this person is an F-Class… right?”
“Yeah, well… but why is that suddenly important?”
“No, it’s just that…”
Just a few hours ago, he hadn’t kicked me out. Instead, he had threatened me and chased me away.
“Uh, I’m really sorry for yesterday. The company’s rules state that F-Class hunters are refused entry for security reasons. It’s just… I’m really…”
He was sweating profusely and bowed his head.
Then he treated us like guests and escorted us to the information desk.
“Talk about being friendly in front of an A-Class.”
I said lightly. Ahn Yoon-seung chuckled in response.
“Right? He has no idea who you really are.”
Yoon-seung looked at the guard as if he found him very ridiculous. To be honest, I didn’t quite get why.
While Yoon-seung chatted with the desk staff, I pretended to be indifferent.
“I’m Ahn Yoon-seung, A-Class Hunter from the Neo Sisters Guild. I sent an email yesterday evening.”
“Are you referring to the Gate entry matter?”
“Yes. In the reply, they mentioned I need to talk to the representative directly.”
But wait a minute…
“The representative’s office is on the top floor. Please take the elevator.”
If I’m not mistaken, the desk staff’s reaction was somewhat ambiguous.
It was like they were standing in an uncomfortable position, constantly hesitating.
Plus, this time there was no guide to walk us through.
“Do we need to go by ourselves?”
“Let’s just take the elevator for now.”
Ahn Yoon-seung nodded, as if he had anticipated something, and headed toward the elevator. I couldn’t help but feel this was a completely new experience.
“Wow.”
As Ahn Yoon-seung pressed the elevator button, the doors closed, and I felt my body lift off the ground.
Probably because of the acceleration while going up.
I admired this new technology, which didn’t even exist in my world. However, the excitement in my heart soon crashed back down to earth.
[60th floor. The door will open.]
Ding.
With a friendly voice, the door opened.
“What? I pressed the button for the 60th floor, right?”
The moment I stepped out of the elevator, I realized something was wrong.
‘This is barely the 2nd floor!’
The road came into view through the glass in front. The trees hardly reached the top at all.
This is too low to be called the 60th floor.
“Did the elevator break down?”
I was gazing at the scenery outside, puzzled, when Ahn Yoon-seung quickly opened his mouth.
“Um, Hyung… I’m sorry I didn’t explain this beforehand, but it looks like we’re… being tested.”
Tested?
“Actually, the tower representative… I mean, the guild master, is rumored to have a peculiar personality.”
“Really?”
“Since there are only three S-Class hunters in Korea, it’s only normal that it’s difficult to make an appointment with him.”
Ahn Yoon-seung placed his hand on his bald head and groaned.
“The representative pretends he’ll meet you, but once you’re here, he pulls pranks! He pushes visitors into a maze he created.”
“Is this the maze?”
“Yes. I heard that the internal structure of the Magic Tower headquarters is all mixed up…”
A type that enjoys watching visitors wander in a maze?
“Most likely, you’ll have to find your own way to the top floor. Only those who pass my test may meet me. Something like that.”
After hearing this, I suddenly noticed a fire hydrant next to the emergency exit.
It had yellow paint with the words: “Press here in case of emergency.”
I ignored the escape system and suggested another idea.
“Well, if the elevator isn’t working, should we try going up the stairs?”
Ahn Yoon-seung willingly followed my suggestion, but the result wasn’t good.
“Uh?”
Next, on the 3rd floor of the building, we went up the emergency stairs.
“What is this?”
Ordinarily, I expected a corridor, but this time there was a garage behind the door.
“No way.”
“Yes. Opening that door connects you to a random place, and you keep going around in circles.”
Indeed, the term ‘maze’ couldn’t be more fitting.
For now, we decided to return to the 2nd floor we had been at. And during our movement, we talked.
“Yoon-seung, how many people have passed this test, roughly? About how much time does it usually take?”
“I’m sorry, but I haven’t heard much about it. It’s possible that no one has passed yet…”
“You can’t be serious. Not a single person so far? Moreover, the staff must know the way; haven’t they leaked any information?”
“The executives probably know only a few.”
Perhaps there are security-related regulations, so even feedback from successful candidates is nonexistent.
“Anyway, how the heck do you break through such a complex maze by hand? Are they telling us to waste expensive items…?”
Ahn Yoon-seung seemed very dissatisfied with the Korean Magic Tower’s treatment.
Of course, it was us who rushed the visit, but still, it’s certainly infuriating when they play pranks like this without any courtesy.
“Quite well-made.”
However, I began to feel a strange excitement.
A maze made of magic reminded me of home’s atmosphere.
I like this place, so I definitely wanted to meet the sorcerer who designed the maze.
“Hyung, what should we do? Should we split up and try to open some doors? Otherwise, we’ll just waste time.”
Don’t worry, Yoon-seung.
That won’t be the case.
‘If people are struggling to navigate such a simple structure, I guess earthlings have a hard time finding their way…’
Even if I’m a bit useless now, there are still things I can do.
