Climbing the Tower with Multidimensional Avatars - Chapter 100

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 100. The Sephiroth Mage – A City in a Dying World (3)

“Lucky, then… What about Rubin and Kart?”
The woman guarding the counter posed the question, and Andromallius wore a bitter expression.
“Both are dead.”
At his words, the woman’s expression hardened.
“How did that…! Where are their bodies?”
“We couldn’t recover them.”
The woman appeared shocked, covering her mouth with both hands.
“I’ll explain the details later. For now, don’t tell anyone about my return. Issue Emergency Protocol 2 and assemble everyone within the hour.”
I wasn’t sure what Emergency Protocol 2 entailed, but the woman’s eyes trembled from the shock before she nodded with a resolute expression.
“Understood. …But who is that? Wearing a mask—a newcomer?”
The woman looked me over and asked, and Andromallius answered with a smile.
“Not yet. But I’m still persuading them.”
At the mention of still persuading me, she regarded me with an expression of disbelief.
“You look like a lower-class citizen. Seize the opportunity when it’s offered. Don’t play hard to get and lose your chance, then regret it later. How dare you be so presumptuous….”
“Heidi, mind your words. They are my life’s benefactor.”
At Andromallius’s words, the woman called Heidi fell silent.
“…I apologize. I was thoughtless.”
At her sudden apology, I nodded.
“No, it’s true—this is indeed a remarkable opportunity. But I’m nothing special to be called a life’s benefactor. All I did was throw a rope to someone drowning. As you said, it was simply good fortune.”
“Haha, I’m relieved you’re thinking positively about it. Let’s head inside first. I’ll prepare a room for you to stay in for the time being.”
I followed Andromallius upward, and Heidi hurried back to the counter, picking up a phone and contacting someone.
“It seems only one person is stationed at this Safe House?”
I sensed virtually no presence of anyone else through my perception.
“There are a few others. They’re all research enthusiasts, so they’re deep underground. Most commute from their homes. Not all of them hold citizen certificates of Grade 3 or higher.”
Right. To reside within the Inner Wall, a citizen certificate of Grade 3 or above was required.
Still, it seemed that those affiliated with Shadow could pass through the Inner Wall and commute freely.
From what I could see, those with Grade 4 citizenship or lower didn’t have unrestricted access.
“I thought everyone would be provided with Grade 3 citizen certificates since the Safe House is located here, but it seems that’s not the case.”
“This Safe House is maintained because of the 33 Magic Towers. The actual main base where my colleagues gather and reside is outside the Inner Wall. I have free access to the Inner Wall, but most other Shadow members don’t.”
As I suspected.
“Issuing Grade 3 citizen certificates is… well, the city government and the 33 Magic Towers are strict about it. Beyond that, everyone has families they need to support. Ah, but Credit’s identification will be issued as Grade 3.”
“Didn’t you say it was strict?”
“Repaying a life’s benefactor—such strictness is trivial by comparison. My life has a very high price, after all.”
That’s a promising thing to hear.
“Even if you choose not to join me, I intend to provide you with conveniences for the time being. I still need to teach you magic as promised.”
The room I was shown to was right next to Andromallius’s personal quarters—spacious and comfortable.
What kind of room costs several million won per night like a luxury hotel suite?
It wasn’t just any room either—it was a suite with an attached living area.
“This is the bedroom, this is the living room combined with the kitchen, this is the bathroom, this is the shower room, and this is the Training Room. There is no guest room, so if you wish to receive visitors later, you can use the reception room on the first floor.”
A Training Room? Could I really cast magic freely in here?
“Does it suit your taste?”
“If I didn’t like it, I’d feel like I’d deserve punishment. This room is that impressive.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Still, the structure required wearing shoes indoors, which felt inconvenient as someone from Korea.
Living in a house while wearing shoes—what an odd custom.
I’d have to find some slippers to wear around later.
“Well, we still have a bit of time, so shall we resume the magic lesson?”
Andromallius guided me to the Training Room.
His instruction was quite rigorous.

* * *

Andromallius clicked his tongue inwardly as he observed his newly acquired disciple.
Credit was a genius who defied his very understanding of the world.
Impossible sensitivity to magic and mana control.
He was practically a being born to become a mage.
With limited time, he had taught only a few basic spells and the method to develop the Astral Body, yet in that short span, Credit had grown it from an infant to roughly kindergarten size.
Since the Astral Body existed in the Astral Dimension, he couldn’t determine its exact size, but the visible quantity of mana and the changes in the aura flowing as the spirit form matured were more than enough to tell.
On his very first proper day of magical study, with merely thirty minutes of training, the growth was so pronounced that Andromallius’s heart raced with anticipation.
Perhaps before the day ended, Credit might master Class 1 and advance to Class 2.
However, Andromallius concealed such expectations.
He feared that excessive praise might lead to arrogance and laziness, or worse, cause Credit to squander his brilliant talent.
His expectations stemmed from more than just Credit’s raw talent.
As Andromallius taught magic, he sensed that Credit was certainly no commoner.
Though nearly devoid of magical knowledge, his comprehension, adaptability, and general education level clearly indicated advanced schooling.
Yet according to “Truth Discernment,” one of the powers of the Servant Mage Andromallius, Credit’s origin from Outside the City was undeniable.
Even without invoking his power, the complete absence of knowledge regarding the City’s common sense was proof enough.
Alongside a faint hope that perhaps another human civilization remained Outside the City, Andromallius felt simultaneous concern—what misfortune might have driven Credit to come toward the City?
If the opportunity arose later, he intended to ask where Credit had come from.
Dismissing such idle thoughts, Andromallius asked.
“Does that lotus position help you gather mana?”
“Ah, it’s merely habit. When I practice the body-enhancement magic I’m learning based on my physical form, it does help.”
“I see. I’d advise you to keep that magic hidden as much as possible. If Hybrid happens to notice, it could become troublesome.”
Andromallius offered the warning and checked the time.
“For now, either study on your own or rest. I have matters to attend to and will be away for a while—it may take two or three hours. Please try to remain in your room. And absolutely do not leave the building.”
Once an identification document was issued, moving about freely outside would pose no problem, but wandering without one while he was absent was extraordinarily dangerous.
Andromallius issued stern warnings and left the official Safe House maintained for communication with the Magic Tower, heading toward the true Safe House beyond the Inner Wall.
The Safe House was disguised as an unremarkable, somewhat shabby employment agency.
Upon entering, Andromallius observed his assembled colleagues who had answered his summons.
While they all welcomed him with surprise at his return, I noticed several whose heart rates had spiked dramatically.
Ordinarily, one couldn’t discern another’s heart rate, but the Safe House was essentially my magical workshop, and these individuals had contracted with me to borrow portions of my power.
In extreme terms, it was a relationship of subordination—knowing their heart rates was trivial.
“Everyone has arrived. I shall now begin identifying the traitor.”
At my words, everyone stirred in alarm.
“A, a traitor?”
Without answering, I withdrew my magical staff from subspace and lightly tapped the floor, isolating the Safe House from the outside world.
Several attempted to flee, but I had already completed the spell before entering, so I was faster.
As the space sealed, all movement became constrained.
Witnessing those who had attempted escape, the members of the Andromallius Family realized my words were no fabrication.
“Rubin and Kart are dead.”
“That, that can’t be!”
“Kart betrayed me. He attempted to poison me to death, and Rubin, who was also poisoned, died protecting me at Kart’s hands. Because the poison took effect so suddenly after I consumed it, I couldn’t protect Rubin. I killed Kart with my own hands, but the poison nearly claimed me as well as it corroded my body.”
At my account, everyone swallowed hard, tension gripping them, and fury ignited within them.
Most present had been saved by me, and they had served me with genuine loyalty.
Therefore, their hatred for the traitor and their anger at the fact that Andromallius—their very foundation—had nearly perished was only natural.
“From now on, everyone will undergo individual consultation. We shall begin with those who attempted to flee.”
“W, wait please! I didn’t betray you!”
One of those who had failed to escape cried out desperately as my telekinesis dragged him forward.
“If you are innocent, not a single hair on your head will be harmed. But if you are guilty, death will not come easily.”
Though I was kinder than most, once my anger ignited, I could become crueler than anyone.
“Please, please…!”
“Do not beg me. Beg your past conduct and your conscience instead. Only those two things can save you.”
I dragged my trembling former colleague, who pleaded for mercy in terror, toward an empty room.
Not long after entering the room, horrific screams echoed from within.

* * *

After Andromallius left, I paused to consider my options.
“I need to gather information.”
If I was going to survive in this world, I had to understand its history, politics, and customs.
Ideally, I would scour the internet for data, but if that proved impossible, I could always visit the Library.
Even if this Safe House was merely a facade for public consumption, a place this expansive surely contained a study somewhere—though I decided against searching for it.
A study wasn’t simply a repository for books; it was a workspace and a vault for personal secrets.
Since Andromallius currently viewed me favorably, it was wise not to give him reason to suspect me.
At minimum, until I obtained citizenship in this hardcore dystopian world, discretion was my best strategy.
In truth, joining the Andromallius Family seemed less like a good choice and more like my only viable path to establishing roots in this city.
Becoming a Third-Class Citizen wouldn’t grant me wealth or shelter on its own.
Andromallius understood this perfectly, which is why he so blatantly exposed the city’s darkness and offered me these conveniences.
He was subtly threatening me—without his protection, I too would descend into the misery of the lower classes.
His demeanor seemed pleasant enough, but there was something cunningly sinister beneath the surface.
Still, even setting that aside, it would be foolish to squander the opportunity to learn genuine magic from a true mage.
“I suppose I should focus on training.”
I replenished the inner energy I had expended creating and nurturing my Astral Body.
When I first arrived in the City, the natural qi had diminished sharply, but upon entering Naedo City, I found the energy far richer than outside the walls.
This was abnormal, but likely an intentional environmental design to cultivate mages.
With my inner reserves restored, I used my reincarnation clone to consume the spirit elixirs I had stockpiled on Tower Floor 1, expanding my dantian further and channeling my inner energy to accelerate my Astral Body’s growth.
“If I play this right, I might master Class 1 before Andromallius returns.”
Of course, that’s just inflated specs for the handful of spells I actually know.

(To be continued in the next chapter)

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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