The Problematic Child of the Magic Tower-Chapter 146

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 146: The Inflection Point of Pure White (7)

Boom! Pop-pop-pop!

As darkness draped over the stadium at sunset, a series of dazzling fireworks burst in the sky.

Verdi Nakwind stood stiffly, looking more nervous than when he had been in battle.

“You can relax. I’m not going to eat you.”

Tesila Windroar chuckled as she approached him for an interview as the Final MVP of the match.

“Of course, your performance today was so impressive that I’d love to kidnap you into my adventure team…”

Feeling an intense gaze from behind, Tesila shrugged.

“But your Tower Master is watching like a hawk, so I guess that won’t be possible?”

“Oh, uh, yes.”

Tesila, who had successfully eased Verdi’s tension, held out the microphone.

“Well then, let’s begin the Final MVP interview. Here we have Verdi Nakwind, a Level 5 Mage of the White Tower.”

“Hello.”

“Let’s skip the small talk and get straight to the point. Just yesterday, you were struggling with mana reflux symptoms and almost wiped out your team. What kind of magic did you use to recover in just one day?”

“Oh, that’s…”

Verdi quickly scanned the audience, searching for Oscar.

He wanted to get permission before sharing the details.

As their eyes met, Oscar casually waved his hand, signaling him to do as he pleased.

Seeing that, Verdi smiled and answered,

“I underwent a treatment surgery last night from a fellow mage of my Tower.”

“Huh? Treatment surgery? I wasn’t aware that the White Tower had such a skilled magic healer.”

Tesila’s eyes sharpened.

There weren’t many healers capable of treating mana reflux disorders.

And if he had undergone the surgery just last night, it meant he had performed outstandingly on the battlefield in less than a day.

“I’ve heard that treatment surgeries for mana reflux have severe aftereffects. The healer must be extremely skilled.”

“Well, that’s part of it, but the surgery I received is different from what you’re familiar with.”

“…Wait. Are you saying it wasn’t the usual method of closing the magic circuit reflux points?”

“No, it wasn’t. In fact, compared to before the surgery, I have experienced no loss of mana, and my magic flow is more stable than ever.”

That was undoubtedly true.

Anyone watching the live screen above the stadium would be thinking the same thing.

His performance today had been far too exceptional for someone supposedly suffering from side effects or aftereffects.

“If… if that’s really the case, then this surgical method is bound to cause a massive stir in the academic world. Can you reveal the name of the person who performed it?”

“Of course.”

Verdi nodded and looked toward a particular section of the audience.

The magical recording crystal followed his gaze, and a face with a nonchalant expression appeared on the screen.

“The one who treated me was Oscar Crucian. He’s my junior, but I deeply respect him as a mage.”

“Oscar Crucian… that name sounds familiar.”

Tesila’s mind quickly raced through the information she had on him.

A prodigy of alchemy who had recently restored numerous potions and vaccines.

A mage hailed as the White Tower’s noble genius.

Not to mention, he had participated in the Western Front campaign, where the Empire’s army had achieved a historic victory against the orcs.

Even the Supreme Commander of the Western Front, Theodore Bale, had showered him with praise.

‘Wait a minute… and now he’s capable of magical healing too?’

For a moment, she wondered if Verdi was lying.

After all, his skills seemed too overwhelming for just one person.

But Verdi wasn’t finished with his unexpected admiration.

“Moreover, the overall strategy for today’s match was also devised by Oscar.”

“What?”

“Excuse me…?”

Oscar, who had been quietly listening to the interview, blinked in confusion.

‘When did I do that?’

No matter how much he thought about it, he hadn’t.

As he continued to stare blankly, Verdi carried on,

“He healed me and told me to take first place no matter what in today’s match. He even praised my skills, saying I was particularly good at tactical maneuvers. If that’s not giving me a hint, what is?”

“……”

That was… just an honest compliment.

Yet, everyone was now looking at him with pure astonishment.

Oscar leaned back against his chair with a resigned sigh.

‘Oh, whatever.’

A thought crossed his mind.

First, get famous.

Then, no matter what nonsense people say about you, they’ll still praise you.

‘I’ve been through this countless times in my past life…’

But experiencing it again in this body felt strangely fresh.

It was inevitable.

Once you became famous, people would drag your name into all kinds of stories, whether you liked it or not.

As Verdi finished his interview and ascended the stairs toward him, Oscar sighed.

“Did you really have to embellish things that much?”

“That wasn’t embellishment. I was just speaking my honest feelings.”

“Ah… hmm…”

His stubborn honesty left Oscar at a loss for words.

With an awkward smile, he offered his congratulations.

“Well, in any case, you did well. I saw you win.”

“And I’ll be watching you.”

“…Huh?”

Instead of answering, Verdi simply stared at him with unwavering eyes.

As if to say—You’re next.

Realizing his meaning, Oscar smirked.

“Of course. The White Tower will take the championship.”

The moment he spoke, the holographic screen shifted, and a new announcement echoed across the stadium.

[Now, we will explain the rules for the final match taking place in two days.]

The decisive battle that would determine the final rankings of the Magic Towers.

The mages swallowed nervously as they focused on the screen.

[The third match will be a survival game in a vast virtual battlefield.]

[The battlefield consists of various environments, so secure advantageous locations for survival.]

A map appeared on the screen, resembling a topographical guide.

Mages around the stadium murmured.

“There’s a forest and a mountain.”

“Hm. A stream cutting through the entire map? It looks like a valley.”

“And in the center… that place looks like a city.”

They were already analyzing the strategic points on the map.

‘Whatever the case, that central city must be crucial.’

‘Whoever takes that area will have a big advantage.’

‘But they’ll also be a prime target for attacks.’

The rules of the match continued to be announced.

[Every participating mage will receive a daily task.]

[Completing the task will grant 1 point to the mage’s affiliated Tower.]

[Additionally, every meal a mage consumes will earn their Tower 1 point.]

‘So, eating three full meals a day is also linked to scoring, huh.’

‘It'll be important to gather as much food as possible.’

‘Each tower has twenty Level-4 mages participating in the competition.’

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‘That means, just by completing daily assignments and eating properly, we can earn 80 points per day.’

‘Doesn’t seem too difficult.’

However, as soon as the next set of rules appeared, most of the mages froze.

[In this competition, crimes such as theft, betrayal, and deception are allowed.]

[Even killing mages from other towers is permitted.]

[If you kill a mage from another tower, your affiliated tower earns 3 points.]

“...What?”

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“You’re telling us to kill people…?”

But immediately afterward, a reassuring message was added.

[The three tower Masters of the White Tower, Red Tower, and Violet Tower will observe every area and situation in this competition.]

[If a mage is deemed to have suffered a fatal injury, protective magic will automatically activate to ensure their safety.]

[If a competitor is judged to be "dead" but does not leave the arena immediately, their entire affiliated tower will be disqualified.]

‘Ah, so it’s basically like the mock battles we did at the academy.’

‘Since there’s no real danger of dying, they’re telling us not to hesitate in using lethal magic.’

‘And if you "die," don’t be a burden to your tower—just get out. Got it. Noted.’

The holographic screen now highlighted the outer edges of the map.

[There are "forbidden zones" in the outer regions of the arena. If you enter these zones and fail to return within the time limit, you will be considered "dead."]

‘In other words, we have to stay within the designated space.’

‘It may look like we can move freely, but in the end, an illusion is just an illusion. They don’t want us leaving the arena.’

[This competition has no time limit.]

[The match will continue until only one tower remains.]

The mages murmured in shock.

“What? Then the match won’t just last a few hours….”

“It could turn into a battle that lasts for weeks.”

“If that’s the case, the most important thing is…”

Those with quick wits all arrived at the same conclusion.

‘Food.’

‘We need to secure food no matter what.’

‘We don’t know how long we’ll have to survive inside. Instead of focusing on combat, strengthening our foundation comes first.’

As the mages swiftly processed the rules and nodded in understanding, the announcement voice revealed the final rule.

[Each tower may designate one mage as the "King" before the competition begins.]

[If the King is killed, the tower will be disqualified, regardless of the reason.]

[Hide your King’s identity and protect them until the end.]

[The name of this final battle within the Mage’s Night… is the “Game of Kings.”]

* * *

Midnight.

The Meeting Room.

Two people were already seated at the table, where the cold night air seeped through.

Click.

The door opened, and as a new figure entered, the warmth of their presence filled the room.

“Hmph. Looks like everyone’s here.”

“You’re a bit late.”

At Tony Havertz’s remark, the Red Tower Master, Kudel Redmane, scoffed.

“What a joke. So what? You got a problem with that?”

“…No. I wasn’t trying to pick a fight.”

Realizing his slip, Tony shook his head and apologized.

Unlike the Yellow and Blue Towers, which had sent heirs, the Red Tower’s actual tower Master had come in person.

That meant their status and influence were on a different level.

“Well then, lightning brat. Speak. Why did you drag me here and waste my precious time?”

“I invited both of you here to discuss the White Tower.”

“The White Tower, huh.”

The Red Tower Master smirked, crossing his arms before casually propping his feet onto the table.

His sunglasses concealed his eyes, making it impossible to tell if he was serious or amused.

“Don’t tell me you called me here just because they snatched first place in the second competition? What, are you scared?”

“That’s not it.”

Tony’s voice was low and calm as he continued.

“You’re aware that the White Tower has been rising at an unusual pace lately, aren’t you?”

“Hah! Unlike you idiots who foolishly handed over the potion market and got your fancy bikes stolen, we’re not that weak.”

It was an obvious taunt, but Tony and the Blue Tower’s representative remained unfazed.

“I hate to admit it, but a new wind is blowing.”

“…”

Even the Red Tower Master couldn’t deny it.

The White Tower had been growing more aggressively in the past twenty years than ever before.

“So far, only the Yellow and Blue Towers have been hit, but the Red Tower might be next.”

“Hmph. So what’s your point?”

“A storm is coming. And there’s no reason for us to hand them wings on top of it.”

Tony slid two parchment scrolls across the table.

“We’re not asking for much. Just a simple agreement—not to fight each other until the other towers have been eliminated from the competition. What do you think?”

“Pfft… Haha… Hahahaha!”

Kudel burst into laughter, gripping his stomach before scratching the back of his short, white hair.

“This is a conspiracy, plain and simple. And you had the nerve to say it wasn’t?”

“…If you refuse, then.”

“If I refuse, what? You two are gonna team up and take out my people first?”

“We wouldn’t rule it out.”

The one who answered was not Tony, but the Blue Tower’s representative, Seruin Aquadne.

His pale, expressionless face turned toward the Red Tower Master.

“There’s no personal grudge here. But my tower Master has given me one order—to never return with a lower rank than the White Tower.”

“…”

The determination in his gaze was clear.

He was willing to bare his fangs at even the Red Tower to follow his master’s command.

Kudel stared at the two for a moment, then smirked.

“You two are insane. Truly, utterly insane. Did you really think I’d cower and say, ‘Oh, yes sir, I understand’ just because of that?”

Of course not.

Tony and Seruin had anticipated this response.

So, they tossed out their bait.

“If you cooperate with us, the Yellow Tower will transfer ownership of one of its western mana stone mines to you.”

“The Blue Tower will offer salt at a better trade ratio than ever before.”

“…Hoh. Now you’re finally speaking my language.”

Kudel grinned, finally pushing up his sunglasses.

“It’ll be a short-term alliance, but fine. Let’s get along, comrades.”

[Translator - Night]

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