Chapter 002….
The Tower’s Master (2)
Curiosity about the unknown has always driven the progress of civilization.
“Hmm, I’m so hungry. Eating that one fruit won’t kill me, right?”
“I wonder what’s in that cave… It’d be nice if there’s an edible creature… oh, it’s a bear.”
“Birds can fly because they have wings. Then, honestly, if humans had wings, wouldn’t we be able to fly too?”
If they hadn’t been curious at that moment, could humanity have risen to the position of the master of all creatures?
“No, we’d have just been like any other animal.”
At least, Shinwoo thought, we wouldn’t have thrived like this. Curiosity about the unknown is the driving force of progress.
“I’m curious.”
Shinwoo’s curiosity burned about the job of being a Magic Tower Master.
The magic of the wizard summoned to the tower was recorded in the laboratory. And the tower master could use all that magic as if they had always known it.
So, what comes next?
“I should try using the facilities.”
The first target was already the laboratory.
“Hmm, I should bring the wizard along.”
After all, research requires someone to ponder and wrestle with questions.
Moreover, due to the tower’s structure, which resembles an idle game, the summoned wizard wouldn’t be left idle—they all had roles.
The problem was figuring out how to get this little guy to the laboratory…
[Tip! You can give commands to wizards via nurturing.]
“Bingo.”
Shinwoo immediately gave the order to move to the laboratory. A quickly left the room and headed there.
During this, Shinwoo could see the interior of the tower.
“Wow, this is a complete ruin.”
Dust and chunks of stone piled up in the lobby.
It seemed that after exploring the laboratory, cleaning would be the first priority. At least it shouldn’t be dangerous to walk around.
Meanwhile, A had reached the laboratory.
Inside…
“A library?”
Bookshelves lined the walls, and a round table sat in the center. Despite the size of the shelves, only three books were on them—and all of the titles were familiar:
“Magic Bullet,” “Ignition,” “Flight”
“So this is the format for recording in the lab.”
Other than the ink and quills on the table instead of pens, it looked like a normal library.
[Laboratory Lv.1] – Research and develop magic.
Research topics: “Magic Bullet,” “Ignition,” “Flight”
Required mana: Variable
Required personnel: Variable
Research time: Variable
It seemed research could only be conducted on the magic recorded in the laboratory.
That made sense—if any magic could be researched, the choices would have been overwhelming. Efficiency would have required checking costs one by one.
“In that sense, the first research is basically decided.”
“Magic Bullet”
A basic, fundamental magic, so the research cost was the cheapest.
“Magic Bullet”
Required mana: 10/10
Required personnel: Lowest-rank wizard 1/1 (A deployed)
Research time: 5 hours
[Wizard A begins researching “Magic Bullet.”]
As the order was given, A immediately sat at the round table and started writing something rapidly on paper.
What was A writing? And what would come of it?
Ah, the anticipation was thrilling.
However, anticipation makes time feel slow. Even after checking the Arcane Engine room and the half-destroyed meditation hall, there was still plenty of time.
“Maybe I should take a nap…”
Shinwoo felt overwhelmed by the flood of information received in such a short time. A nap would clear his head.
Deciding this, Shinwoo slipped under the blanket.
A short while later, only Shinwoo’s even breathing could be heard in the small room.
Newly hatched birds consider the first being they see as a parent. This is called imprinting—a natural instinct to find their creator.
The same applied to Wizard A.
“Ah!”
Even thick ceilings couldn’t hide the gaze of his creator. A instinctively realized that this was his parent.
The one watching over this place from the heavens. Naturally, A’s knees neared the floor, and his head bowed, and he heard the words:
[You, A, are my first disciple. You are the first stone I cast into this world.]
[Here, you must contemplate your powers and strive to develop them.]
Following that command, A began studying his power in a special chamber granted by the god.
However, asking A to research magic was like asking a newly hatched bird to fly.
The great god had prepared for A.
“!!”
The moment A grasped the quill, the principles of magic and the mysteries of mana naturally filled his mind. Each discovery made him exclaim involuntarily, and his hands moved faster.
“Magic Bullet is a spell where a wizard concentrates mana with their will to give it physical force.”
A focused on the fact that “a wizard can manipulate mana in the air with willpower.”
According to quill knowledge, all things in the world contain mana.
“Then why couldn’t a wizard control it by will?”
His mind soared, thoughts reaching their limits.
In that moment, A’s will stretched like an invisible hand and grasped the paper before him. Lifting it—
Whoosh!
The paper floated, proving his hypothesis.
But A didn’t stop there.
“If all things contain mana, why can’t I control formless fire?”
Then, elements like wind and light could also be manipulated.
After much thought, A snapped his fingers, and a flame appeared in the air.
Fwoosh!
An uncontrollable disaster. A symbol of destruction. Fire.
But as soon as A’s will touched it, the flame turned into a butterfly, then a small cloud.
Ah! Though trivial to the divine, it was a huge revelation for a mere mortal.
“Great one, please see my struggle with favor.”
Did the divine hear his sincerity?
The disorganized notes coalesced in midair, forming two books:
“Telekinesis”
Author: A
“Elemental Control”
Author: A
The two newly born magical tomes now sat beside the previously recorded three. A’s face was filled with awe.
Shinwoo, waking to the message, stared:
“What… is this…?”
Stunned, he could hardly believe it.
Sometimes, the world changes while you sleep.
Like receiving an unexpected job acceptance or a song going viral online.
This was exactly what happened to Shinwoo.
[Wizard A has gained insight while researching “Magic Bullet.”]
[“Telekinesis Lv.1” acquired.]
[Eureka! Wizard A connects the insight from Telekinesis to Ignition and gains a new insight.]
[“Elemental Control Lv.1” acquired.]
“What…?”
Shinwoo wondered if he was hallucinating.
[Skill Window]
: “Magic Bullet Lv.1,” “Ignition Lv.2,” “Flight Lv.1,” “Telekinesis Lv.1,” “Elemental Control Lv.1”
It was unbelievable. Who would believe an awakened without a single monster killed could get this much?
“Transcendent rank…?”
Moreover, the two new skills were famous among hunters for their versatility. To gain them in one research session—what magic would come next? Shinwoo already felt excited.
Of course, nothing in the world is free.
“…Mana is insufficient.”
Although mana was produced in real time in the Engine Room, it wasn’t enough to start new research.
“Can’t I use my own mana instead?”
That would effectively double the Engine Room. Yet, the system remained silent, as if to say one shouldn’t expect that.
Just as Shinwoo was sighing, a thunderous sound appeared, and a crimson message flashed before his eyes:
[Raid Occurred!]
Unscrupulous intruders have appeared, aiming to seize the tower.
As the tower’s master, send your loyal wizard to guide these vile invaders to the afterlife.
[Warning! If the tower is conquered, critical resources and internal facilities may be plundered or destroyed.]
[Hurry.]
Immediately, a familiar rift appeared in the air near the tower.
“A gate…”
For some reason, it spat monsters into the tower.
Hehe!
Goblins emerged from the gate, small in stature like children, low in physical ability but notoriously cunning.
Fortunately, the gate’s low-level monsters suggested the gate itself was low-grade.
“The question is whether A can handle these goblins alone…”
[Wizard A becomes enraged and engages.]
With the message, A flew from the tower like an arrow.
Fuming at the intruders, A swung his staff at the goblins.
Flames shot from their crude wooden spears.
“Kyaa?!”
Screaming, the goblins dropped their spears.
But A wasn’t satisfied, swinging the staff again.
Flare!
The flames took the shape of snakes, biting the fleeing goblins.
A was controlling the fire with Elemental Control!
“Wow…”
Shinwoo was impressed by A’s skill. Though low-rank, A could handle the goblins.
Wait… not yet.
“It’s too early to relax.”
The real threat of the gate appeared—a goblin larger than the others:
“Goblin Warrior (Boss)”
A boss monster, stronger than its kin, a ‘pillar’ maintaining the gate.
A’s face stiffened.
“Mana is insufficient.”
Even with great skill, A was still a low-rank wizard—fragile without mana.
“I have to help.”
But Shinwoo had no idea how to assist. He frantically checked every corner of the screen, but the system remained silent.
Meanwhile, the Goblin Warrior roared at A. Shinwoo shouted in frustration:
“What kind of tower master just watches when their subordinate is in danger!”
At least he could send a weapon!
[Tip! As the tower’s master, you can send items via tower mana to assist your struggling wizard.]
[Tip! Don’t have suitable items? No problem! The tower’s mana will affect the item’s effectiveness.]
“Ah, you should’ve said that earlier!”
With no time to protest, Shinwoo found an item to send to A. He spotted the fridge and ran—targeting a drink inside:
“Bacchus M”
A drink said to activate mana when taken over a long period, always kept in stock. Hopefully, it would help A!
[Sending item.]
Pop!
The drink disappeared from Shinwoo’s hand and appeared in A’s.
Caught off guard, A immediately drank it.
Gugugung!
Mana surged from A, and Shinwoo quietly read the label:
“Bacchus M”
[Contains mana herb extract; grants slight mana recovery when consumed by an awakened.]
Slight mana recovery?
“That… isn’t enough.
