The Star Continent.

The Star Continent.

The sky there is filled with countless stars, large and small.

Some stars are so close they cover one-sixth of the sky, while some moons are clustered like flower petals, and many stars twinkle from far away.

In the distant past, those stars were once a single continent. Now they’re shattered, sparkling in the sky. Sometimes… on very quiet days, sounds of festivities from the nearest star can be heard like singing.

At the center of all these stars stands the Tower of Covenant. Though completely invisible from the outside, another world unfolds once you enter. A tower existing within the mysterious curvature of dimensions and space. A staircase connecting all broken worlds. Only mages could ascend and descend this tower, traveling between stars.

The first mages also descended from the Tower of Covenant, spreading magic throughout the world and building cities and crossroads where people could live.

Of course… that was long ago.

As time passed, mages gradually lost interest in the world outside the tower. Instead, they became obsessed with monopolizing resources only found in the Tower of Covenant and creating their paradise within. As mages explored higher up the tower, the value of food and resources coming from outside plummeted, and the lower floors connecting to the outside world gradually faded from the mages’ interests.

Seven powers sent their most excellent and loyal figures to the upper floors of the tower, while the lower floors were crawling with newcomers, insignificant individuals, or those expelled from organizations.

Until just recently, this trend seemed like it would never change.

“…The 80th floor has been breached?”

“Yes… a new defensive line has been formed on the 77th floor… but at this rate, we can’t guarantee even the 70th floor.”

The secretary giving the report looked up slightly and continued with an expression of admiration.

“It happened exactly as you predicted, Chairman.”

“That was the flow of things.”

He was an old man with short, stylishly cropped yellow hair. He frowned and muttered.

“But… that’s not necessarily good. If we lose even the 70th floor, we’ll immediately face food supply problems… We’d be regressing by about 500 years.”

Thump. Tap-tap thump, thump, thump!

The old man drummed his fingers on the transparent table. Made from Life-and-Death wood, the table was normally transparent, but wherever the old man’s fingers touched, it darkened like spreading ink before becoming transparent again. Rhythmic black concentric circles. A harmony of clear and dull sounds. True to its reputation as a premium table beloved by mages, it pleasantly awakened the mind.

“Fine. We’ll surrender the 70th floor for now.”

“What?”

This answer seemed unexpected; the secretary’s eyes widened.

“B-but wouldn’t surrendering the 70th floor mean losing too much? And it seems that both the Academy and Truth Tower are trying to concentrate all their capabilities on the 70th floor’s defensive line… Wouldn’t it be better to support them?”

“Leave them be. Those self-righteous heroes and fanatics will probably dampen the enemy’s momentum somewhat. For now, we’ll surrender the 70th floor and gather our strength around the 66th floor, aiming to recapture the 70th. Yes, it’s about making a comeback from defeat.”

And you know…

The old man drummed on the desk again, lost in thought before speaking.

“I heard Pan-Dalus is gathering forces in the lower floors?”

“Yes. Mage Hedric organized a joint caravan and went down to the lower floors upon hearing that news, but suffered a bitter defeat.”

“Right… until then, I thought it was a small business and paid no attention… but unexpectedly, Pan-Dalus’s judgment was a masterstroke… If we lose both the 90th and 70th floors, we can no longer ignore the food and resources coming up from the lower floors. Especially in chaotic times like these… Good. We’ll also organize a caravan. This time, in my name.”

“Yes. How large should it be?”

“Centered around mages who won’t be very useful for the 70th floor recovery operation… send about three. The goal is to secure a solid route connecting from the 1st to the 20th floor. So we can provide supply support to the upper floors anytime. Whether they confront Pan-Dalus or compromise with him, I’ll leave that to their judgment. Just tell them to secure the route.”

“Understood. Nevertheless, I’ll attach a combat-specialized caravan as an escort.”

“Yes. Just exclude A-grade ones and pick from B or C grades.”

“Yes.”

The secretary bowed and left the office.

Left alone, the old man drummed on the desk. Thump, tap-tap, thump, thump.

“Huff… Less than a year since losing the 90th floor, and already at the 77th? The world really seems to be heading for destruction. I can’t see even an inch ahead. Damn… only those Ragnarok bastards must be celebrating…”

Society’s chairman, the Mage of Comeback, Walrot. 7th Circle. One of the tower’s strongest, belonging to the Nine Dragons (2 Mages, 4 Emperors, 3 Sages) — specifically among the 4 Emperors — he pressed his fingers to his brow, seemingly tired.

Yet a rough smile formed on his lips.

“Just wait and see. I’ll surely turn this crisis into an opportunity too. Yes. It’s about making a comeback from defeat.”

Smiling confidently, he suddenly frowned.

“Those cunning Magic Tower bastards… seems like they moved first…”

* * *

————————

<WARNING>

Emergency measures following the recent series of staircase massacre incidents.

From here on is territory protected by the ‘Great Cataclysm Emergency Committee.’

Those wishing to enter should send message magic to the address below for permission.

Attempts to enter without permission will be considered trespassing.

-Divine Mage Baek Jun-woo

————————

Tower of Covenant 5th floor. Silver Zone.

Under the pure white sky stretching over gray plains, warning notices were fluttering about.

A mage caught one and read it, frowning.

“Divine Mage…?”

Murmurs spread through the procession.

“Is this Divine Mage that rookie who defeated the Mage of Illusion?”

“…We don’t have any Mage-class power on our side…”

All eyes turned to the person in charge.

A mage with a pitch-black robe pulled up to cover their head muttered in a low voice.

“Hehehe… Ignore it. Since when do we Magic Tower mages believe rumors we haven’t seen with our own eyes?”

“Yes, teacher.”

The thirty mages who answered in unison were all wearing black robes pulled over their heads.

Looking like a flock of crows, they glided forward, hovering slightly above the ground.

Thud!

Until a white-haired boy dropped down in front of them.

Swish!

The Magic Tower mages slid like ghosts to surround the white-haired boy. They cautiously checked in all directions for other enemies.

“Who are you?”

The leader at the center questioned the boy. The boy, without particular response, asked indifferently.

“Did you see the warning notice?”

“White-haired brat… hehe. Yes. So you’re the one called Baek Jun-woo.”

“Surrender now if you don’t want to die.”

“A mere 3rd Circle mage… heh”

At that mockery, the boy placed his hand on his long sword hilt.

“So,”

Zing, the side of the scabbard split open and the blade slid out.

“You want to die?”

Whoosh!

Without warning, a whirlwind raged around the boy’s body.

“Oh… what spell is that?”

“Curious? Then how about this? This is the ultimate weapon that will burn even Deus. Death born into the world by my name, the Divine Mage. Burn. God-Slaying Lightning!”

Brilliant white lightning crackled along the boy’s long sword.

“Hehehe… I don’t even understand the principle. I’ve never seen such a spell. What could the principle be? I’m curious. So curious I can’t stand it…! Hehehe.”

The black-robed mage shuddered with excitement.

* * *

“What…?”

How did the conversation even turn out like this?

“You’re surrendering?”

“That’s right. Hehehe.”

In front of me, thirty mages were kneeling. The white-haired old man kneeling at the front raised his pure white pupils to look up at me. The stark white pupils in that wrinkled face gave me a chilling sensation like a hell demon.

“Weren’t you about to fight me just moments ago?”

“Hehehe. What are you saying… I just wanted to see your skill. Hehehe. Those two spells were enough. Please take us in. Hehehe.”

It felt suffocating.

“Take you in? What’s that supposed to mean?”

Is this creepy-looking old man really asking me to “take him in”? Is this for real?

As I pressed my brow and asked, the old man… that is, Magiro, the 5th Circle Mage of Deadly Poison from Magic Tower, answered.

“Hehehe. Exactly what it sounds like. Take us with you and do as you wish. You may imprison us or torture us… but preferably, give us various errands to run. It would be even better if you protect us and occasionally teach us. Hehehe.”

“…You’re saying you want to become my subordinates?”

“Precisely! Hehehe…”

Ugh!

The demon-like old man’s beaming face was unbearable to look at. But I couldn’t just turn away. They possessed information about the current chaotic political situation.

“So… the Mage leading you died and you were fleeing? Not trying to attack or seize another staircase?”

“Hehehe. Yes. We are rather victims of the recent successive massacres. It was truly horrific. Hehehe.”

It wasn’t the most trustworthy face. But I couldn’t disbelieve a 5th Circle mage staking his name. The interrogation with [Simulation] confirmed it too.

“Who was the opponent?”

“The Saint of Ragnarok.”

Hmm… so it was Ragnarok?

A month had passed since defeating Hedric. During that time, five more staircases between the 1st and 5th floors were annihilated. Massacres leaving no survivors. Without clearly identifying the culprits, rumors abounded: it was Ragnarok’s doing, Magic Tower’s doing, Truth Tower’s doing. Amid endless talk, armed conflicts continued everywhere.

Was it all Ragnarok’s doing after all?

“Heh. Not necessarily. There are too many cases where Ragnarok’s activities don’t overlap with the locations of recently destroyed staircases. It’s more correct to assume there’s a third force. Say… the Knight Order. Heh. However. This time it was Ragnarok. Hehehe.”

Right. We had also pegged the Knight Order as a likely suspect in these massacres. Other groups didn’t suspect them much since their activities weren’t apparent… but at least we had been attacked by the Knight Order in the Land of Iron-Eaters.

So Ragnarok had joined in too?

Ragnarok.

A group commonly called traitors. Those who not only forgot the mage’s duty to fight calamities but actually allied with them. Lunatics who desired the world’s destruction.

I’d heard rumors they’d come down to the lower floors, but I hadn’t realized they were strong enough to annihilate an entire group of mages led by a Mage.

“…Are they strong?”

“Heh… an absurd monster. We thought the Saint was just a mage with a unique Gift… but our Mage was torn to death after exchanging only about ten spells.”

Tore a Mage apart after just ten spells?

“You fought such a powerful enemy… how are you still alive?”

“Because we fled after exchanging about three spells. Hehehe.”

…Are these really the kind of people with such pitiful loyalty who are asking me to take them in?

I felt deeply skeptical.

Sensing my expression, Magiro hastily added,

“We don’t always flee. If you promise an appropriate reward, we can sacrifice even our lives. This time we fled simply because there was no reward. Hehehe.”

“Reward?”

“We are Magic Tower mages. If we can learn the secrets of magic in the morning, we’re willing to die by evening. Hehehe. And we’ve heard the Divine Mage knows magical secrets that no one else knows. Seeing with my own eyes today confirms it’s true.”

Magiro erased his smile and looked directly at me.

“As things stand, we’ll only die like dogs being chased by Ragnarok. Rather than that, I’d prefer to stake my life on a more future-oriented possibility. Heh. Unfortunately, the Divine Mage is our only option right now. Please accept us and teach us. If you do, we’ll work like dogs for you. I promise.”

Thud!

Magiro pressed his forehead to the ground in supplication.

Then all thirty-some subordinate mages also pressed their foreheads to the ground.

Thud!

“We promise!”

This was, how should I put it…

Having these gloomy mages bow to me like this… suddenly gave me the dirty feeling of becoming some kind of demon lord.