Chapter 125

Chapter 125
## Chapter 125: Five Pillars (2)

Regardless of the circumstances, Kadim and Duncan were permitted entry into the Magic Tower. Their primary objective remained the delivery of the remains to the proper authorities.

The interior layout was far more utilitarian than Kadim had envisioned. The hallways, crafted from tightly fitted white masonry, were tidy and functional, yet they lacked the majestic aura or arcane mystery he had anticipated while looking at the tower’s grand exterior.

Kadim observed the area with a clinical coldness. This was a surprise; he had assumed Melissa would have decorated her domain with far more extravagance. He turned to the guide, a mage draped in a light blue mantle, to inquire.

“The inside is quite modest compared to the facade. I don’t see any other practitioners around either. Is the entirety of the Magic Tower this unremarkable?”

“…My apologies, but I am forbidden from discussing the internal layout of the Magic Tower with those from the outside. Furthermore, I have no clearance to share any other details with you.”

The sorcerer’s response was tinged with visible annoyance at having to show deference to a man he viewed as a primitive. Kadim let out a sharp, mocking breath and shifted the weight of the body on his shoulder.

It wasn’t long before their path ended at a solid white wall.

The way forward was blocked by a dead end, devoid of any staircases or entryways. While Duncan appeared confused, Kadim remained composed. He knew they would employ some form of magical concealment.

As predicted, the mage began tapping specific coordinates on the stone surface. Glowing azure rings and complex sigils flickered into existence.

“Rise—Al, Marquine, Remun, Phon. Move to the forty-second floor greeting chamber.”

Rumble… rumble…

The obstructing wall pulled back, and the corridor behind them shifted like a rotating screw, unveiling a fresh passage. The mage gestured for them to proceed, his face carefully neutral though his eyes betrayed a flicker of arrogance.

“Follow me. This way.”

“Incredible…”

Duncan murmured, his voice filled with the wonder of a child.

“My lord, is every part of this place interconnected like this? Or do they have even more miraculous methods for reaching other sections?”

“…You find this fascinating, do you?”

“I-I do! I’m incredibly curious! A layman wouldn’t get a single look at a place like this in a hundred lifetimes…”

“I’ll ensure you get a chance to explore it thoroughly very soon. Make sure you commit the layout and the activation sequences to memory.”

“…Excuse me?”

The weight of the statement was heavy. A sudden, inexplicable sense of dread took hold of Duncan. He opened his mouth to ask for clarification, but Kadim was already moving briskly ahead.

They stepped through a portal in the center of the hallway and entered the greeting chamber. It offered no mystical flair—just a plain, somewhat cramped space illuminated by a sterile white radiance.

“Please wait here and make yourselves comfortable. I will go summon an official with the proper rank to oversee this matter…”

With those final words, the mage exited the room.

The moment they were alone, Kadim lowered the corpse and began retrieving weaponry from his storage to equip himself.

Duncan looked on in a state of panic.

“Wh-What are you doing, my lord? W-We came here to strike a deal with the mages by returning the remains, didn’t we?”

“Precisely. And I am simply readying myself for that negotiation.”

“…”

Kadim knew that the threat of force and the presence of fear were excellent tools for bargaining, particularly when dealing with these arrogant casters. He intended to be fully prepared for the coming talk.

However, he didn’t require Duncan’s strength for this part. It was time to delegate tasks; the merchant had a different set of skills to offer.

“Good, we aren’t being watched. Duncan, leave now and scout the immediate area.”

“W-What?!”

To fulfill his obligation to Hendark, Kadim needed to uncover the Magic Tower’s hidden truths beyond mere written files. A merchant who knew how to hide his presence was the ideal candidate for espionage. Since this was dangerous territory, he decided to start Duncan with a simple reconnaissance mission.

Duncan, unaware of the broader plan, assumed he was being punished for his earlier curiosity.

“M-My lord, I-I was only joking! I have no desire to wander through the Magic Tower! I’ve seen more than enough already, so please…”

“I wasn’t joking. This is a vital task, so go before the opportunity passes. If you are discovered, I will intervene.”

“…B-But my lord, this is the Magic Tower! You can defeat physical enemies with your blade, but if these mages use some bizarre hex…”

“Don’t let that concern you. I can sense when a mage is weaving mana, and I have a definitive method for shutting them down.”

“…?”

Contemporary mana was infused with “mage energy,” a scent Kadim could easily track. If they attempted an incantation, he would silence them physically. For more complex threats, he carried a “fail-safe” provided by the Arch Paladin.

Kadim gripped Duncan’s shoulder firmly, repeating his command with steel in his voice.

“You don’t have to wander far. Just map the hallways on this level for now. Note the floor plan and any unusual mechanisms, then come back.”

“…”

“Mediocre scouts panic the moment they stray from a path, but the elite are those who embrace the unknown. Which one are you, Duncan?”

The question struck the merchant’s professional pride. He pressed his lips together, then answered in a low, determined tone.

“…The elite guide, Duncan Wheeled. I will prove my worth, my lord.”

“…”

Duncan eventually departed with a look of grim resolve. Kadim gave a small, dry laugh and sat back down. He ran his hand over the vibrating grip of his axe, waiting for his counterpart to arrive.

A short while later, a mage walked into the chamber.

He was an unremarkable man wearing a crimson robe, appearing to hold a similar status to the deceased mage. He grimaced first at Kadim, then at the body on the floor, letting out a heavy breath.

“Good grief… He was always boasting about joining the Elder Council after hunting high demons, and this is his end? It’s truly pathetic…”

“…”

“Ah, you must be the barbarian who transported the vice-captain’s remains. Not the best circumstances, but a pleasure to meet you. Thanks to your efforts, we’ve recovered our missing officer at last. I am Asillus Conjuror, the vice-vice-captain of the Battle Mage Unit, holding the rank of Conjuror. Your name?”

“…Kadim. You aren’t going to accuse me of his murder?”

“Hmm? I don’t see why I would. How could a common thug kill a mage of the Conjuror rank? It was clearly the work of a high-ranking demon.”

“…”

Kadim, who had already dispatched several mages of this caliber, found the assumption convenient. After providing a fabricated account of how he found the body, he asked a question.

“How significant is the rank of Conjuror? I was told it stands above Invoker.”

Asillus’s expression soured at the question. His unremarkable features twisted with annoyance.

“…The hierarchy of the Magic Tower is split into six tiers: Apprentice, Seeker, Invoker, Conjuror, Sage, and Master.”

“…”

“The vast majority of mages never advance past Invoker, so anyone at Conjuror or higher is considered a high mage. However, the ranks of Master and Sage are exclusive to the Tower Lord and the Elders, people a man like you would never meet. Effectively, a Conjuror like myself is the peak of authority you will ever interact with.”

He continued with a sharp, condescending edge.

“So mind your language and show some deference, barbarian. I am being generous by not throwing you out and speaking with you personally. I could turn you into scrap with a few incantations… Don’t mistake my presence for equality.”

“…”

“Honestly, if it weren’t for the vice-captain, I would have left a barbarian like you to be handled by the Apprentices…”

His voice was saturated with the typical hubris of his kind.

Had Duncan been in the room, he would have sensed the tension and rushed to de-escalate the situation.

But the merchant was gone.

BOOM—CRACK!!

A massive axe blade descended like a bolt of dark lightning.

The floor shattered, leaving a jagged crater in the stone.

The strike was faster and more lethal than any spell could have been. The mage’s eyes went wide with shock. This floor was reinforced with protective enchantments—it should have been impossible to damage it with physical force alone…

Kadim, however, remained perfectly composed, as if the action were mundane.

“I am showing you respect as well.”

“Wh-What is… what have you…?”

“I dragged a rotting corpse all the way here, and yet I’ve tolerated your insults and allowed you to keep your life. Is this not a beautiful display of mutual respect? Do you have anything further to add?”

“Y-You animal, do you think you can get away with—?”

“Try to speak a spell and I’ll tear your jaw off. Shout for guards and I’ll tear it off. In fact, if you even breathe too loudly, I’ll rip you to pieces. Do you want to find out if your tongue is faster than my hand? The choice is yours, mage.”

“…”

A lesser mage might have tried to cast a spell out of sheer terror.

But Asillus was no mere academic; as a vice-vice-captain of the Battle Mages, he was a veteran of actual conflict. His arrogance evaporated, replaced by survival instinct. The murderous aura radiating from Kadim made his vision swim and his knees tremble.

This man was far more terrifying than any monster he had ever fought.

Asillus squeezed his eyes and mouth shut, bowing low in submission. His panicked breathing was audible in the silence.

“…You can stand up now. Breathe normally.”

Seeing the mage broken, Kadim decided to ease the pressure.

“Forgive the sudden display with the axe, sir mage. You can tell your peers that you took offense at my lack of manners and attacked first, and that I surrendered. That keeps your reputation intact, doesn’t it?”

The mage nodded frantically, his face red with shame.

“Now, let’s discuss my payment. The journey here was miserable, so the reward must be substantial. I want something the Tower values—something like knowledge.”

“…”

“I want the journals left by the founder, Melissa.”

“…What?”

A look of genuine confusion crossed Asillus’s face.

Kadim found the reaction unsettling. Had she not established this place? Were there no records of her after all this effort?

Not exactly, but the answer he received was cryptic.

“How do you even know about the founder’s archives? Are you… working for Elder Oklamud? Even with the Tower Lord currently away, how do you have the audacity to make such threats inside our own home…”

“…?”

“…No, that’s impossible. Elder Oklamud has no use for barbarians. He knows we don’t have any ‘pillars’ on our side… Then who are you with…?”

Thud!

“Start from the beginning. I don’t understand a single thing you just said.”

Asillus’s bewilderment turned to pure dread when Kadim slammed his axe handle onto the floor.

“…You really don’t know?”

“…”

“D-Damn it, please forget I said anything. That information isn’t for outsiders… I’ll provide any other compensation you want…”

“…”

Kadim didn’t budge. His stare made it clear that a different reward was not an option.

The secret was already out. Asillus chewed on his nails and wiped his face, sighing in defeat. After a long moment of internal struggle, he seemed to accept his fate, his eyes losing their spark.

“Fine… Here is the situation. Tell me who you really are and why you want those files—honestly. Only then can I decide if I can help you…”

“…”

Kadim gave him the truth: he had no master, only a personal desire to know about the life Melissa led.

Asillus looked at him as if he were insane.

“…Is that the truth? You don’t want ancient forbidden magic, or world-ending secrets, or the height of magical research… You just want to read about her daily life?”

“Yes.”

“…”

“All that magic theory is nonsense to me anyway.”

Asillus leaned back, let out a dry chuckle, and shook his head.

“Heh… I’ve met my share of weirdos in this tower, but you take the prize… It’s like finding a vault of diamonds and deciding to walk away with the pebbles on the floor…”

“…”

“Well, your eyes seem sincere… If those are your terms, I can work with you. For returning Vice-Captain Ramakren, we will consider you an ally for now. We will work together, and we will get to those archives first.”

The phrasing felt suspicious to Kadim. He crossed his arms, looking skeptical.

“…Can’t a high-ranking mage like you just go look at them?”

“No. As I explained, the founder’s records are unique. People have many opinions about her life, but her writings are considered the most sacred artifacts of this Tower.”

“…”

“The previous Tower Lords locked them away, fearing they were too volatile for common use. Officially, only the current Tower Lord has the right to see them.”

Kadim felt a wave of frustration. Dealing with the leader of the tower would be infinitely more difficult.

However, it was too soon to give up. The mages’ hunger for power often outweighed their loyalty.

They had discovered a loophole.

The archives were kept in the deepest subterranean level of the Magic Tower—a zone strictly forbidden without the Tower Lord’s express consent. However, an Elder studying the architectural blueprints had found a hidden entrance.

There were two requirements to use it.

“The Tower Lord sees everything when she is present, so she must be absent. And we need the ‘Five Pillars’—incredibly powerful magical artifacts—to serve as keys.”

“…”

“She almost never leaves the grounds. No one had the courage to try until she departed for an inspection a few days ago. This is our chance to reach the ‘First Tower Lord’s Tomb’ where those records are kept…”

Kadim stopped him mid-sentence.

“…Wait. What did you just call it?”

“Hmm? The First Tower Lord’s Tomb.”

A heavy, freezing silence filled the room.

Kadim clenched his jaw, fighting back a powerful surge of emotion, and asked in a voice that sounded like it came from the depths of the earth.

“Are you saying the first Tower Lord… is definitely dead?”

“Well, did you think she was still walking around? She lived over two centuries ago. Even the most powerful mage in history cannot escape the end of all things.”

“…”

Kadim’s eyes went vacant and hollow.

Small cracks began to appear on the face of the warrior who had once turned his back on his people and walked away.