Novel Full Chapter 1317. The Magic Tower (30)
Chapter 1317. The Magic Tower (30)
It was an utterly predictable story.
‘Retainer Ki-Young had always admired mages.’
Since he often accompanied his former master to the Magic Tower, his admiration toward mages naturally grew stronger. Looking back now, it seemed that what allowed Retainer Ki-Young to endure all kinds of cruel and harsh experiments was his curiosity and thirst for the unknown.
After attending to the mages who came to see his master, repeating and memorizing the spells they taught him had been a happy and joyful memory.
Going to the Magic Tower with his master and watching the apprentice mages from afar was a little painful, yet Retainer Ki-Young sometimes imagined himself learning magic alongside them.
Of course, he knew better than anyone that such a thing wasn’t permitted for him.
‘A story that would bring tears to your eyes.’
Before being a mage, Retainer Ki-Young was his master’s retainer. He wasn’t studying the arcane for himself. He was just an experimental subject, a toy. That was why he naturally understood that the small dream he held in his heart could never come true.
Just as he was giving up on that dream, a piece of good news arrived.
He would have a chance to go to the Magic Tower, even though he could only fantasize about being a part of it. It was a chance to explore the unknown. The current version of Retainer Ki-Young, someone who prioritized Big Boy, couldn’t openly show it.
However, it seemed as if Big Boy could sense the hidden longing in the kid’s eyes.
“...”
“...”
He looked troubled. Yoojin and Carlton also suddenly began paying attention to him. Judging by the mood, Carlton and Yoojin leaned positively, while Big Boy opposed the idea.
Just then, the impatient Yoojin said, “Is that really... possible?”
“Shut up for a second, Yoojin! Damn it, it’s not even finalized yet, so why are you in such a hurry?” Big Boy complained.
“You shut your mouth, Big Boy! Damn it! Don’t you realize how huge an opportunity this is for the kid?” Yoojin questioned.
“I-I’m fine, guys,” I stuttered.
“Fine? Don’t make me laugh,” Big Boy said.
Finally, the three of them, excluding Jo Hye-Jin, began their heated debate.
Big Boy, still suffering from PTSD from the Song Soo-Kyung incident, was being particularly stern. He was shouting so loudly that he seemed to have forgotten the fact that Jo Hye-Jin was even there.
Fortunately, the smartest, Carlton, remembered her and looked at her.
“Can we... discuss this among ourselves for a moment?” Carlton requested.
“Ah... sure,” Jo Hye-Jin answered.
“Come outside, Big Boy,” Carlton said.
“You crazy bastards! Fine, let’s take it outside!” Big Boy shouted.
Afterward, I heard their loud voices outside. They would usually argue while drunk, but now, they were arguing while sober.
Thinking that it could turn into a rough brawl, I quietly observed them through the Telescope. Sure enough, they were already fighting.
‘Really pathetic. All three of them are like grown-up children.’
“You idiot! Didn’t you see the kid’s face?” Carlton questioned.
“I did see it, but... that’s different. What if something goes wrong again? Are you going to take responsibility? Huh? This time we were just lucky! Who’s to say something like that won’t happen again?!” Big Boy asked.
“Do you think opportunities like this are common?! Get a grip, Big Boy! It’s the Blue Guild! The Blue Guild! They’re sponsoring the kid! Do you even understand what that means?
"They’ll even solve the retainer brand problem. If the kid enters the Magic Tower with the Blue Guild’s recommendation, I’m sure they’ll assign him to a high-ranking mage,” Carlton explained.
“Well, that’s...”
“Don’t you know what that means? You know better than anyone that a successful mage is basically a noble. This is a chance the kid can never get again, and you’re going to let him miss this opportunity? All because of your selfishness?” Carlton complained.
“I can’t make the same stupid mistake again, Carlton. Damn it!” Big Boy shouted.
“This time it’s different! You idiot! It’s Jo Hye-Jin! The Jo Hye-Jin! Don’t you know who she is? The same Spear Goddess is vouching for him!” Carlton yelled at him.
Even his voice reached us. When I felt Jo Hye-Jin looking at me, I snapped back to reality.
“...”
“...”
A slightly long silence ensued...
“...”
“...”
As expected...
‘She’s angry.’
Honestly, she had every reason to be angry, as she was suddenly dragged into this place and forced to become part of Kim Hyun-Sung’s administrative team.
It was only natural that I act cautiously. Even though the environment allowed us to talk comfortably, Jo Hye-Jin said nothing. The saying “a guilty conscience needs no accuser” suited this scene perfectly. While others could overlook it, Jo Hye-Jin staring at me with that face made me feel scared and uncomfortable.
“Ki-Young,” Jo Hye-Jin called out.
‘Damn it, she’s speaking casually.’
“Are you crazy?” she asked.
Naturally, I had to apologize and explain the troubles I had to go through.
“I’m sorry. I didn't expect things to turn out like this... Is there still some work left for you to do? If you bring them here, I’ll help—”
Jo Hye-Jin shouted, interrupting me, “What parallel world? Are you crazy?! Why did you come here alone?! I have no idea what to say...”
I realized just then that we weren't thinking about the same thing.
‘Hye-Jin is worried about me.’
A silence lingered longer than before, and it was probably because of my sly face.
‘Hye-Jin is worried about me.’
Jo Hye-Jin seemed to have realized that she had gotten worked up, as I saw her face turning red.
“...”
“...”
Of course, I had to carefully test the waters.
“Were you worried?” I asked.
“I wasn’t,” Jo Hye-Jin answered.
“Well, I thought... maybe you hadn’t slept for days... I thought you were angry just because of work. You were worried, right?” I asked.
“Why would I worry about you?” Jo Hye-Jin asked.
“Come on, you were worried. That’s why you yelled at me, saying I was crazy. So yeah, that counts as being worried,” I pointed out.
“No,” she said.
“Come on... just be honest,” I said.
“No...”
“If you were worried, just say you were worried...” I teased her.
“I said I wasn’t worried!” Jo Hye-Jin yelled.
“So you were worried,” I said.
“...”
“...”
“Th-That’s right, you asshole! I was worried!” Jo Hye-Jin confessed.
‘Huh?’
Suddenly, Jo Hye-Jin threw the papers in front of me.
“I was worried! I said I was worried! What are you going to do about it?! What?” Jo Hye-Jin yelled.
“Ah... I mean...”
“Alright, since we’re talking about it, let me ask one thing. Are you really out of your mind? Are you trying to die again? You seem completely obsessed with dying. Do you not want to live? You crazy bastard! Why do you always cause trouble? Why can’t you stop risking your life?!” Jo Hye-Jin complained.
Still not satisfied, she grabbed my cheek and pulled it.
“Do you know how ridiculous this was? Forget being told to go to a parallel world. When I first arrived here and assessed the situation, do you know how absurd it all was for me?!
"You idiot! You're not even fully grown yet, and you're already wandering around dangerous places like this. And you think I'm not supposed to worry about you? What? Am I not supposed to worry?” Jo Hye-Jin complained.
“Ah... ugh... You see...”
“You’ve really crossed the line this time,” Jo Hye-Jin said, interrupting me.
‘Why is she grabbing my collar? She’s the one putting me in danger.’
“Big Boy might come in! Big Boy!” I warned her.
Startled by that, she released me, but she immediately raised her hand, looking like she wanted to give me a light smack.
‘She’s crazy, damn it.’
“You really... really...” Jo Hye-Jin trailed off.
“I mean...”
“Forget it. I knew you were always like this... I knew you wouldn’t understand even if I said something. You’re really...” Jo Hye-Jin trailed off again.
Judging by the tears welling in her eyes, she had to have been feeling extremely frustrated. After fuming for a good ten minutes, Jo Hye-Jin finally had no choice but to stammer, "I-I’m sorry."
‘Why is she crying?’
Perhaps she had accumulated too much stress from Hyun-Sung.
“No, I’m sorry, Miss Hye-Jin. Really, but I’m not without excuses. I originally came with others, but this time, I was dragged here because of an accident...” I told her.
“And what do you want me to do about it...” Jo Hye-Jin grumbled.
“...”
“...”
“Are you crying?” I asked.
“Why would I be crying?” Jo Hye-Jin said.
‘You look like you’re crying,” I said, pointing it out.
“I’m not crying...” she mumbled.
“No, you are crying,” I said.
“No, I’m not! Stop making me angry and go away!” Jo Hye-Jin shouted.
“No... don’t cry,” I said.
“I said I’m not crying! Really!” Jo Hye-Jin yelled.
‘I can clearly see the tears in her eyes...’
It seemed like Jo Hye-Jin was even more worried than I had expected.
‘Wow... she really...’
From her perspective, it made sense that she was angry. By handling this situation, she had to have realized how the first life was going and what was happening here. While preparing reports for Kim Hyun-sung and reviewing the reports that came to her, she probably realized that this parallel world wasn’t normal.
On top of that, there was the chimera attack in Heren, so it was no wonder she was overwhelmed. In the future timeline, Lee Ki-Young had to have come to Heren asking for help, which would have made her feel even more stressed.
I hadn't expected to cry, but it seemed she was thinking about many things. The events that had occurred so far had to have influenced her as well. Perhaps because I had already died once, her feelings became even more complicated.
“...”
“...”
Naturally, I felt like I had to do something.
I quietly grabbed Jo Hye-Jin’s hand and said, “N-Noona, don’t cry."
“...”
“...”
“Stop being cheesy and go away,” Jo Hye-Jin said.
‘Looks like she’s calming down a bit.’
“Noona, are you feeling better?” I asked.
“Don’t do that. Seriously,” Jo Hye-Jin said.
“Aiiing... noona... are you feeling better?” I asked, acting cute.
“Stop it,” Jo Hye-Jin said.
“When my noona cries, Ki-Young gets sad,” I said, acting cute once again.
“You’re really annoying, Ki-Young,” Jo Hye-Jin said.
“Little Ki-Young’s heart hurts so much,” I continued.
“Ah! I told you to stop that! Seriously, sir!” Jo Hye-Jin yelled.
When I smiled brightly, she flicked my forehead. She seemed to have controlled her strength, so it didn’t hurt, but it felt like the air between us had cleared up a bit.
My ridiculous act of affection lifted her mood slightly. Since the previously tense atmosphere had been slightly assuaged, it was finally time to carefully get to the main topic.
I had to cautiously observe the changes in her face as I said, “So...”
“...”
“Why the Magic Tower all of a sudden? Did I say I wanted to be sent to the Magic Tower?” I asked.
“...”
“...”
“Well, you did say something like that. I heard that in that timeline, you would probably ask about it yourself...” Jo Hye-Jin replied.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Do you want to know?” Jo Hye-Jin asked.
“Come on, stop joking around,” I said.
“You were joking around all this time...” Jo Hye-Jin grumbled.
“Excuse me?” I said.
“It’s nothing. So...” Jo Hye-Jin paused.
“...”
“You said you wanted to save Miss Jung Ha-Yan from the parallel world,” Jo Hye-Jin revealed.
“What?”
“You said you wanted to save Miss Jung Ha-Yan from the parallel world, so you asked me to send you to the Magic Tower,” Jo Hye-Jin said.
The unexpected answer left my mouth hanging open.