I Conquered the Tower with the EX-Class Character That I Raised - Chapter 7
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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 7
I made my way back to the room with careful, measured steps.
“…Wow, I’m alive. I really thought I was going to die.”
When Synchronization activates, I become an Awakened One.
When Synchronization deactivates, I revert to an ordinary human.
If I expend mana violently in this liminal state, the backlash alone can be lethal.
…I hadn’t anticipated that.
“Was that agony the price of 50,000 MP?”
It’s fortunate I only cast Frozen once.
If I’d carelessly decided to test things out and unleashed a barrage of spells, my insides would have ruptured and I’d be dead.
‘That was close.’
Indeed.
Humans don’t repeat the same mistakes unless they’ve had their heads cracked open once.
And there’s one more thing I’ve learned.
When I defeated the monster, I absorbed luminous particles, and those particles healed my body as it convulsed from the backlash.
If I want to use magic freely, there’s an implicit demand: kill beasts and absorb the ‘luminous particles’ they drop.
Simultaneously, it’s a threat—fail to kill a beast after casting magic, and the aftereffects will kill me.
The meaning is crystal clear.
“If you draw the blade, you must cut something down—that’s what it’s saying.”
This ability is meant to be used for hunting and slaying beasts.
Logically speaking, that’s the intent.
But…
whoever granted me this Synchronization ability has gravely misjudged me.
“How presumptuous.”
I despise this kind of coercion.
When presented with a binary choice—death or obedience—I’m the type who will find a third path by any means necessary.
And as someone who’s mastered a game to its depths,
I inherently possess the ability to discover exploits that circumvent these ‘forced choices.’
“You’re finished.”
You damnable bastard.
You dare try to manipulate me?
I’ll break through this by any means available.
“But I’ve discovered something crucial.”
The aftereffects? They hurt.
They hurt terribly, but…
I didn’t die.
“I can expend up to 50,000 MP without dying.”
Thanks to that, I now understand.
—This is the safety threshold.
Your attempt to frighten and control me has just been exposed as a bluff.
In fact, it had shown me a safety net—a threshold beyond which I wouldn’t die.
And then.
My mind began to race with crystalline clarity.
Though I hadn’t died, having just returned from the very precipice of death, I could feel my entire consciousness slipping into an intensely heightened state of awareness.
‘This cool, weighty sensation… it’s been a while.’
There was no option but to use Synchronization.
So then.
I had to develop a method to use it safely.
‘Fight using only ice arrows?’
Rejected.
‘Too weak.’
Ice arrows were meant only for clearing the small fry surrounding the boss.
Landing a decisive blow on the boss itself would be nearly impossible.
‘Use Eternal Permafrost weakly?’
Also rejected.
That’s why it’s called a lethal technique.
Eternal Permafrost was born as a high-powered skill specifically designed to ‘absolutely kill’ threatening bosses.
‘Using a lethal technique ‘gently’ doesn’t make any sense.’
My gaze shifted to the monitor before me.
‘Now that I think about it….’
Compared to the Frost Mage in Lost Honor, the efficiency was like comparing heaven and earth.
‘Han Seol-ah, you really do use magic inefficiently.’
In Lost Honor, the basic spell of the Frost Mage, ‘Ice Arrow’, consumed a mere 5 MP.
Compared to Han Seol-ah’s ice arrow costing 500 MP, it was incredibly cheap.
What about the lethal technique?
The difference was even more staggering.
I didn’t even need to reach the ultimate magic available when raising a Frost Mage to max level 99.
Even the mid-tier advanced spell ‘Blizzard’, usable from the middle stages onward, would cost only 1/10 the mana while dealing equal or greater damage.
If I could only use such magic…
But that was mere fantasy.
Lost Honor was certainly a strange game, but…
Magic within a game and magic in reality couldn’t possibly be the same thing, could they?
Setting aside whether it was even possible in the first place.
I didn’t even have a grasp of how to use magic in the first place.
‘It’s absurd.’
…
Hmm.
Wait a moment.
…Is it really absurd?
“…But awakening someone who can’t be awakened makes sense?”
Moreover.
How could anyone kidnap an S-rank Hunter who exists perfectly fine in reality from a Press Conference Hall into the world of a game without anyone noticing?
…Yes.
I am the very person who has tasted miracles through Lost Honor.
‘Miracles….’
—Do not set limits.
My instincts whispered thus.
I felt as though I had grasped one more layer of understanding about my current ability—’Synchronization’.
‘At the stage of miracles… nothing is impossible.’
I opened my palm wide.
—How does one use magic?
A fundamental question.
My answer is simple.
I have no idea!
Ice Arrow, Eternal Permafrost.
I didn’t even know how to use either spell, yet they activated of their own accord.
—How does one use magic that exists within the game?
This is no different.
I don’t know.
There’s no need to know in the first place.
Synchronization. This ability does not operate that way.
—I wish to use it.
…If I desire it so.
“—Blizzard.”
The tedious, pedantic, and complex aspects
are handled automatically.
Tremor—
The mana hole quivered.
Behold.
Even now, the moment I infuse my will and speak the incantation, the mana within my body begins to writhe.
Whoooosh—
A magical circle far more intricate and complex than the mandala Han Seol-ah drew when using Eternal Permafrost materializes within me.
Merely glancing at it is enough to make my head spin.
The speed is so impossibly fast that my senses cannot follow its movements…
Pop!
And then.
A message window appeared.
[Please designate the range]
Within the game, when activating Blizzard, a spell that is area-based,
a magical circle appears to designate where to cast it.
Just as it now bloomed before my eyes.
‘…It’s done.’
It manifests.
Magic from the game.
Right now, in this very moment.
I have advanced one step further.
* * *
The time was when Han Seol-ah encountered the ‘true ice dragon’ in the Other World.
Ever since obtaining Eternal Winter for the first time, Han Seol-ah had been basking in an omnipotent sense of supremacy beyond all others.
And for good reason—the chronic shortage of mana that had plagued her had improved dramatically, and as a result, Han Seol-ah had become an EX-rank Hunter.
The third on Earth, and the second among dealers to earn such a rank.
And this… ‘insane’ staff!
Merely holding it created the illusion that I had become a god of magic, such were its specifications.
But the moment Han Seol-ah encountered the ‘true ice dragon’, she became acutely aware of her position.
—Kraaaaaaah!
EX-rank was not the pinnacle.
Look at that creature before me.
Merely gazing upon it made my legs feel as though they would give way.
My mind went blank white, and my mana froze solid.
Recognizing the overwhelming difference in power, my will to resist evaporated.
‘…Is that really the true ice dragon?’
What I had seen on Earth seemed like a mere serpent by comparison—the difference in caliber was that vast.
Han Seol-ah stole a glance to the side.
There was….
The One, far more terrifying than the ice dragon before me, staring directly at me with unwavering intensity.
‘…Why, why are you looking at me?’
My legs felt like they would give out…
After that.
An obvious ‘trap’ by the name of an elixir.
Han Seol-ah had no choice but to step into it despite knowing what it was.
Because The One was staring at me so intently, as if saying ‘What are you doing? Go pick it up.’
Staring so very, very intently.
The sight of me greedily snatching up the elixirs as they were carelessly tossed to the ground must have looked ridiculous—like a small beast waiting for its master’s touch.
But there was no room for shame.
The murderous intent beyond that abyssal helmet was squeezing my throat as if it would sever my breath at any moment.
As a result.
Combat began.
Han Seol-ah fell into panic.
“I-I can’t win! The ice dragon is immune to ice magic… My spells aren’t working…!”
The moment I turned to look back.
Eyes gazing down at me—abyssal pupils that seemed to pierce through existence itself.
The moment our gazes locked, even my soul threatened to freeze solid…
The gaze of an absolute predator.
I had encountered it.
An overwhelming demonic energy—something no human mind could fully comprehend—cascaded down my spine.
‘Gasp!’
A sharp intake of breath.
Han Seol-ah looked straight ahead.
‘Yes! Let’s fight!’
The urge to flee vanished.
More precisely, a far greater terror had crushed the lesser fear beneath it.
Kuoooooo—!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ice dragon approached at tremendous speed.
‘Kyaaaaaaah!’
Han Seol-ah screamed silently within her mind.
In that instant.
Whoosh!
A faint glimmer sparkled within the eternal winter, and the mana that had been rigidly frozen suddenly began to flow freely through Han Seol-ah’s body.
Struck by a chill as if drenched in ice-cold water, Han Seol-ah forcibly steadied her consciousness.
That’s right.
I’m Han Seol-ah.
Guardian of South Korea…!
Han Seol-ah clenched her teeth and drew forth the full extent of her Frozen mana.
But in that instant.
[Hey, hey. Stop.]
A man’s voice echoed in her mind, and she had no choice but to freeze.
‘…?!’
[What kind of pathetic way are you handling Frozen mana? The Creator transferred ownership to you, so I was going to sit back and watch… but I can’t take it anymore. Even a stray dog passing by wouldn’t operate mana like that. Are you on the same intelligence level as a dog?]
‘W-what?’
I’m Han Seol-ah.
S-rank at that….
[Sigh. Just do as I say. Unless you want to hear that the Creator is disappointed in you.]
‘!’
Han Seol-ah’s mind snapped to attention, and she immediately corrected her posture.
[Extend me forward.]
‘Me? Ah. Could it be… from this staff….’
[That’s right. I am the artificial spirit of eternal winter, Frozen. Now do as I command.]
Han Seol-ah extended the staff—Eternal Winter—forward.
Zzzziiing—!
‘Haaah…’
Then she felt all the mana from her entire body being ripped out toward the staff.
‘Hiiiek…’
[Endure it. And you can’t even handle this much. Some user you’ll be.]
‘W-wait a moment.’
[Can’t hold on any longer? Damn it. This is my first sortie, and I won’t even be able to show the Creator something impressive. Fine then. From that state, shout it out loudly.]
Han Seol-ah’s entire body trembled violently.
“Eternal Permafrost!”
The moment she cried out the activation word.
A brilliant white light erupted from the deep blue gem embedded in Eternal Winter.
Brilliant blue mana swirled before the extended staff, and in the blink of an eye, a sphere of ice the size of a human head materialized with a whoosh.
“Huh?”
It was… different from usual.
There was no need to concentrate.
No need to inscribe a magic circle within my mind.
No, there was no need to even summon my will and touch the mana.
‘Eternal Permafrost isn’t supposed to work like this?’
As if… someone had performed the complex calculations for me.
‘Could it be…?’
Pop!
A sphere shot at invisible speed struck Scathaha.
Boom!
Just like that.
Scathaha burst apart and died.
[Well, this much is usable.]
‘…Did you do that, spirit?’
[Spirit? Just call me Frozen.]
‘Yes, Frozen.’
[Right. Your mana control ability was so pathetic I couldn’t help myself.]
‘…Pathetic?’
[The spell’s completion is… well, not bad. Actually worthy of praise.]
Frozen’s voice continued rapidly in my mind.
Communicating at the speed of thought was quite an odd sensation.
[It’s like a goblin wielding stone tools building a skyscraper—a miracle of that magnitude. How on earth did you manage to create such a high-tier spell with such primitive and barbaric mana control?]
‘…Well, listen, I’m not really that much of a mess…’
[By my standards, you are.]
‘But…’
[You just received my assistance, and you’re telling me you don’t understand the difference? Not if you have any sense at all.]
‘…’
That was true.
Permafrost wasn’t a spell that could be cast ‘this easily.’
[How have you been casting this spell until now?]
‘…I just concentrated my mind…’
I recalled how I cast Permafrost in my thoughts.
[…Wow…]
Astonishment followed.
[This is… shocking and horrifying. It’s a miracle your body didn’t burst apart… Or rather, because you had this much talent, you managed to survive with such a primitive method… ‘Earthlings’ really are thick-skulled…]
Ding-
[Notification: ‘Possession Quest’ has been completed. You will return to Earth in 10 seconds.]
Immediately after losing consciousness, Han Seol-ah heard fragmented voices as her awareness sank into a bottomless abyss.
It was a quarrel between ‘Frozen’ and an unidentified voice in the black space.
‘Thick-skulled… and charity work or something.’
Gasp!
Like a protagonist awakening from a comatose state.
Han Seol-ah jolted awake in bed, gasping for breath.
“W-where am I?”
Looking around, I found myself in a familiar room.
Empty soju bottles scattered about from my drinking after the failed subjugation.
“…I’m back.”
Earth.
South Korea.
My room.
‘Was it… a dream?’
It wasn’t.
The mana flowing through my body was unmistakably EX-rank.
And besides…
[Mmm.]
A pleasant male voice resonated in Han Seol-ah’s mind as she exhaled in relief.
“Frozen!”
Joy flooded Han Seol-ah’s heart.
A divine artifact gifted by the transcendent being she had met in ‘that place’.
‘Eternal Winter.’
A staff so breathtakingly beautiful that merely gazing upon it could induce rapture lay at Han Seol-ah’s bedside.
Han Seol-ah hastily seized the staff.
[Hmm, where is this? The mana concentration is abysmal. What is this filthy environment? It’s precisely the sort of place suited for the weak to inhabit.]
“…It’s my room.”
[As I suspected.]
Han Seol-ah fell silent.
“I need to leave this place. Will you help me, Frozen?”
[Of course.]
Han Seol-ah hurried toward the rooftop.
[Hmm?]
“What is it?”
[No, I just sensed an extraordinarily powerful ice-attribute mana surge.]
“Ah, my apologies. I’ve only recently become EX-rank, so my control is still—”
[?]
“?”
A brief silence hung between us.
[…No, your abilities are still pathetically inadequate. What misunderstanding are you under?]
“…That’s harsh, truly.”
[Mana of such extraordinary density and purity that it puts you to shame. Its deployment so discreet and swift that I barely sensed it. And this… this is a power that touches something more fundamental. An ultra-high-tier mage of this caliber existed ‘here’?]
“Um…”
Han Seol-ah glanced around to confirm no one was present, then whispered to Frozen.
“There is no ice-attribute mage superior to me on this world.”
[What?]
“I am Earth’s strongest ice-attribute mage.”
[…Strongest?]
“…I’m serious.”
[…]
Frozen could not utter a sound.
But Han Seol-ah could have sworn she heard a sigh.
“In any case, you probably misread it….”
[No, that’s impossible. This is. Hmm. Yes, that’s it.]
Frozen’s gem glimmered brilliantly as he performed rapid calculations.
“Hiiiek.”
The mana required for those calculations came from Han Seol-ah’s reserves.
Though the elixir bestowed by The One and acquiring Frozen had increased her mana to absurd levels.
The amount of mana Frozen consumed was simply too vast.
[The power I just sensed was unmistakably similar to your ‘ice crystallization.’ If your ice crystallization were snowflakes, this one was like the heart of a blue dragon—a difference in caliber, but.]
“…Tch.”
Frozen spoke with evident delight.
[You said you were the strongest ice-attribute mage, didn’t you? Yet someone incomparably more powerful than you has appeared right after you returned to Earth?]
“…!”
Han Seol-ah’s drowsy eyes snapped wide open.
“Could it be?”
[Yes. It seems to be The One, my creator.]
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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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