Chapter 336

C336. Strangeness (2)

“Basic operation” was, literally, just that.

Basic.

Neither more, nor less.

In fact, it would be strange if it held any greater meaning.

Basic operation was only used to maintain certain types of magic, or to find variables during the research of a specific spell.

Put simply, basic operation was like repetitive labor.

Repetitive labor where there was no need to use one’s head, just repeating the same thing over and over.

That was why those in charge of it were naturally low-ranking novice mages, and these same people ironically called themselves:

“Slaves.”

And if one thought about it carefully, it was because their lifestyle pattern was similar to that of a slave.

Wake up and run to the lab in the morning to do basic operations.

Eat breakfast and run to the lab to do basic operations.

Eat lunch and run to the lab to do basic operations.

Eat dinner and run to the lab to do basic operations.

Eat a late-night snack and run to the lab to do basic operations.

And finally, at dawn, with deep dark circles under their eyes, they would collapse in their room of barely three pyeong to close their eyes.

Slaves did something similar.

Wake up and run to the field to work.

Eat breakfast and run to the field to work.

Eat lunch and work in the field.

Eat dinner and work in the field.

And sleep at night.

Putting it that way, it even gave the impression that the slave’s life was slightly better.

…In any case, what Alon Palatio saw was simple:

It was the same as the work of a “graduate student,” a professor’s slave.

But then… why was this happening?

“…Parkline.”

“He is the Red Tower Master.”

“Interview number 32.”

“…I see.”

The reason for this absurd situation was…

Alon Palatio turned his gaze toward Evan.

Evan, equally confused, looked back at him.

‘You don’t know?’

‘How would I know…? Didn’t the Marquis do something?’

‘When I was lying in bed all day yesterday?’

‘Right…’

They didn’t need to speak.

Just by looking at each other, the conversation was done.

Alon Palatio felt complex emotions behind his expressionless face.

He hadn’t done anything.

The only thing he had done the previous day was lie down after handling the Sloth and suffering the side effects of Reverse Heaven.

So why was he now seeing interview candidates, who had even assigned numbers to themselves, without him knowing anything?

And not only that…

“So, you are capable with calculations, right?”

“Really?”

“Do you know this? Red Tower spells mandatorily require basic operations in parallel.”

“The required calculation density is very high.”

A Tower Master.

Not just any mage.

“I… see.”

Was he… offering himself as a calculation slave?

In mundane terms:

It was as if a top professor in the field said:

“I can do that slave work very well!”

Faced with that, Alon Palatio could only make a dumbfounded face.

And so, two hours later, he managed to find the culprit.

“I think… I think it’s because of me. I’m sorry…”

Sharan, the Green Tower Master.

She was the responsible one.

“What exactly did you say?”

“No, it wasn’t that I said much…”

Sharan began to recount what she had told the mages the day before.

And after listening to her in silence, Alon Palatio organized the situation.

“So, you just told them they could help with my research by doing basic operations?”

“Yes… but it turned into this…”

Sharan’s embarrassed expression made Alon Palatio shut his mouth.

She really hadn’t done anything special.

But the reason this escalated so quickly was evident.

‘It must be because of the spell I showed yesterday…’

Alon Palatio had done demonstrations before.

But yesterday’s was something else.

Even he had thought: “Did I seriously do that?”

Sharan’s words about being able to help with the research gave the others the final push.

Now he understood why the mages (the professors) were offering themselves as slaves (graduate students).

He scratched his head.

‘What do I do?’

Having many mages was good.

The slow progress in interpreting the magic was due to the basic operations.

If so many mages joined at once…

The speed would increase drastically.

But even so, there were several reasons for Alon Palatio to hesitate.

Mainly because they wanted to help investigate his magic not out of altruism, but to study the magic he used.

But unfortunately…

The current mages, no matter how much they researched, could never use Alon Palatio’s magic.

In this relationship, only he gained.

…Of course, they were the ones offering themselves as slaves, but Sharan and they were not in the same position: she knew the truth.

Over time, this could create resentment.

The second reason was that he had to consult with Heinkel.

She would be the one researching alongside the mages, not Alon Palatio.

“Hmm…”

While Alon Palatio thought, Penia spoke.

“Is it something that requires so much worry?”

“Well… they won’t gain anything.”

“Wouldn’t it suffice to inform them beforehand?”

“It’s not a bad idea, but…”

Alon Palatio furrowed his brow.

“Fine… we will do as you say. We will inform them first.”

“Shall I ask Heinkel then?”

“Can you do it now?”

“She gave me a communication orb.”

“Then handle it, please.”

“Yes. The message will likely reach her tonight.”

Penia nodded.

---

Night.

“Eliban.”

“Yan.”

Eliban, who was quietly observing the galaxy, turned upon hearing her.

“The night sky again?”

“Yes. What is it?”

“It is time to attend the meeting. You must receive your reward.”

Eliban nodded.

For an instant, he remembered the item that King Stallian V had offered as a reward.

“Alright. Can you go ahead?”

“Aren’t you coming with me?”

“I have something to think about.”

Put another way: he was subtly kicking her out.

Yan looked at him with doubt, but she nodded and left.

When he made sure Yan was no longer there, Eliban wiped his bright smile and looked back at the galaxy.

And he remembered yesterday.

Exactly, the conversation with Radan, who had found him right after Marquis Palatio handled the sin of Sloth.

‘Are you going to do it?’

‘Yes.’

It was a short conversation.

It couldn’t even be called a conversation.

Radan asked,

Eliban answered.

And that was it.

Radan didn’t ask anything else.

Eliban didn’t either.

Just an exchange.

But it was unforgettable.

“Haa…”

Eliban sighed.

His head was a mess. But he shook his head slightly and, as always, smiled.

He hadn’t finished his task yet. And until he finished it, he had to smile.

He had to be everyone’s savior.

Everyone’s hero.

He had to gain fame.

He had to do it, necessarily.

“Eliban! I think you should come quickly!”

Eliban turned his gaze toward Yan’s voice.

“Sorry! I’m coming.”

And again,

his face regained a radiant smile.

---

That Afternoon.

Alon Palatio walked out staggering, still not fully recovered.

It was due to the summons from King Stallian V to everyone involved in the incident of the sin of Sloth.

No one took it badly.

It was surely to discuss rewards.

‘He said it was something similar to an Abyssal Core but without side effects… what could it be?’

As he walked forward thinking about what Evan told him, he arrived at the meeting room.

“Ah! Master!”

“Brother!”

“Greetings, brother.”

Seolrang, Radan, and Yuman received him as if they were waiting for him.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m okay!”

“Me too, brother. And you?”

“Yes, Master, are you okay?”

Since he had fallen unconscious yesterday, he hadn’t seen them since then.

Alon Palatio nodded quickly.

“I’m fine. I just pushed myself a little, but I didn’t get hurt.”

“What a relief, Master!”

“Indeed.”

After the greetings, Yuman approached.

“What a relief to see you well. I tried to visit you, but there were a lot of people.”

“Yes! There were weird people always in front of your room.”

“Me too.”

“Ah…”

The mages had only dispersed when Alon Palatio announced he was suspending the interviews.

Remembering the crowd outside his room, Alon Palatio sighed.

“Master, what did you do?”

“…An unintentional interview…”

“…Interview?”

Seolrang tilted her head.

While Alon Palatio explained to them, at the Magic Tower…

---

At the Tower.

[So, you are asking if you can accept more mages?]

[Yes, the Marquis asked me to consult your opinion.]

Heinkel and Penia were communicating.

[Well… it doesn’t bother me.]

Heinkel nodded.

After all, she had already revealed her identity to Selaim and Sharan.

It didn’t matter much what happened anymore.

‘Besides, I want the magical interpretation to progress faster.’

…And she was also excited to feel the look of respect that Sharan and Selaim cast upon her again.

A desire unworthy of a great mage, but there it was.

[So it’s okay?]

[Yes.]

[How many are there?]

[One moment…]

‘I suppose they won’t be Tower Masters, so 5 to 10 would be fine.’

While Heinkel calculated mentally…

[There are 5… 5.]

[5?]

[58.]

[58?]

[Yes.]

Heinkel was a little surprised.

It was more than she expected.

But she shrugged her shoulders.

Better to have too many than too few.

She was about to say “not bad” when…

[Ah, it’s already 68.]

[…All at once?]

[Sharan is accepting applications in real-time. Up to now, there are 74… no, 78…]

[?]

The numbers kept increasing without stopping.

[Right now there are 111, but you must evaluate them personally. I will prepare a separate list of 117… no, 128…]

[???]

[Sorry, I better leave it at 135.]

[Ah, and now there are 141—]

The endless multiplication left him confused.

Something was happening.

[We already reached 150.]

[…]

Yes.

Something… was happening.