The Tale of the Magic Emperor

“7th Circle? I was hoping it wasn’t true, but it really was?”

Yuria shook her head back and forth.

Huh? Didn’t I tell her the news about becoming 7th Circle?

Ah… I was so excited about it that I enthusiastically took on a mission and came out, but it seems I forgot to share the information in my excitement.

“Sorry. I thought I had told you. That’s right. I’m 7th Circle now. Since I already had sufficient mana, crossing over was quick.”

“I heard 7th Circle is difficult because of the need for enlightenment?”

“My special training with Monggu helped a lot.”

“That thing where Monggu cuts and you stare intently?”

“Of course. Being able to see complex multidimensional structures like that was incredible luck. But that wasn’t everything.”

“Then?”

“Monggu’s ‘Dimensional Severance.'”

“Dimensional Severance?”

“I just gave Monggu’s technique a name. Anyway, that thing. It was a Gift.”

“…What?”

“I was surprised too. Monggu doesn’t have any mana at all, right? But even knight armaments that repel mana can’t push away the mana from the deepest part of one’s soul. That’s the remnant left by a god’s soul. Some people have large fragments and gain stronger Gifts, while others have such tiny fragments they never develop a Gift at all. It turns out Monggu had quite a large fragment.”

“That means… no way?”

“Right. Dimensional Severance is also magic.”

“…Which means you can learn it.”

“Exactly. Researching <Dimensional Severance> itself greatly enhanced my insight into multidimensional structures. It became the stepping stone to reach 7th Circle.”

Yuria clasped both hands to her chest.

“Me too! Please teach me too!”

“First reach 6th Circle. Then I’ll teach you.”

Yuria’s current level is 4th Circle 5-star. She clenched her fist and burned with determination toward becoming a wizard.

Seeing that made me feel glad that I had reached 7th Circle.

Currently, Yuria’s body is weakened due to mana exposure.

While it had improved enough not to hinder spellcasting, advancing in Circle still remained burdensome.

A situation similar to what I had experienced before.

But now that I’ve become 7th Circle…

‘I can see a path in mana exoskeleton research. Using that method, I should be able to reduce the burden.’

At the same time, that was also a way to greatly strengthen Pathfinder’s overall power.

Ideas bubbled up in my mind.

‘Just wait, Magic Emperor. Your time to show off ends now.’

* * *

“Your Majesty… I still don’t quite understand.”

“You mean starting this war?”

“…Yes. I’m sorry, but that’s correct. With this unscheduled war, we had to fight without properly gathering Truth Tower’s forces. We even had to accept the utterly presumptuous alliance conditions from the Wizard of Rebirth and the Wizard of Soul Severance. Yet the benefit gained by rushing the attack like this is minimal. We couldn’t really capitalize on the element of surprise either.”

The water wizard Hwi Someong was trembling slightly in her hands due to the psychological burden of daring to oppose the great Magic Emperor’s decision.

Even her brilliant platinum hair was soaked with cold sweat.

Nevertheless, as if she had made up her mind completely, she stated her thoughts to the end.

A kind smile played on the Magic Emperor’s lips.

“Someong.”

Hwi Someong’s shoulders flinched.

It was the first time she’d heard such an affectionate address since childhood.

Half happy, half anxious, she cautiously brought out the old familiar address.

“Yes. Master.”

“Baek Jun-woo killed the Prophet and took control of Ragnarok.”

“Yes. I remember you were pleased about it recently, Master.”

The Magic Emperor nodded.

“I had hoped he would. But I never expected he’d actually defeat the Prophet. That boy is stronger than I imagined. I don’t know how that’s possible. Does he know secrets I’m unaware of? Just how much does that child know? How? Huff… I’ve lived for over 600 years, but… I’ve never seen such a child before.”

“Master…”

“That’s why I hastily started this war. The Prophet was the Mad God’s first priest. Having killed such a being, Baek Jun-woo will inevitably become the Mad God’s target. But he hasn’t grown enough yet to withstand their full assault. So I stepped forward. I want to see just how far that boy will grow, how much he’ll discover.”

Hwi Someong bit her lip hard. Without realizing it, her voice became heated.

“But why! That’s exactly what I can’t understand! While the Divine Wizard is certainly a remarkable person, he can’t compare to you, Master! Why would Your Majesty shoulder this burden for a mere mage?”

Tears welled up in Hwi Someong’s eyes.

This time, the Magic Emperor had revealed his existence that he always kept hidden.

Wasn’t that not only arousing the Mad God’s wariness but also meaning he could no longer avoid its pursuit for some time?

It was self-evident which would be harder to deal with—an enemy hidden behind the scenes versus one exposed to the world.

For the only being who could save the world (Long live His Majesty the Magic Emperor!) to give up such an advantageous position for a mere mage?

Hwi Someong felt her chest burning with frustration.

“With the priests fallen, the apostles will move now… That’s so heartbreaking.”

It was also burning worry.

Raised by the Magic Emperor, Hwi Someong had grown up hearing about how terrifying the Mad God and their minions were until it was drilled into her ears.

As far as she knew, priests and apostles couldn’t even be compared.

When the Mad God’s apostles moved, great destruction that changed even constellations always followed.

Like she’d been brainwashed into absolute trust in the Magic Emperor, Hwi Someong had been similarly brainwashed into absolute fear of the Mad God and their apostles.

Noticing Hwi Someong’s expression, the Magic Emperor chuckled.

“Hahaha! My education was excessive. I taught you that way to encourage caution. Are you worrying about me now? Hahaha!”

The Magic Emperor ruffled Hwi Someong’s hair.

Hwi Someong felt pleased but also confused. Today the Magic Emperor was showing many emotional sides.

What could this mean?

Was the Divine Wizard’s existence stimulating Master that much?

Hwi Someong’s heart grew complicated.

To such a disciple, the Magic Emperor whispered.

“Don’t you know? There is a god who protects this world. That’s me. I didn’t sacrifice myself for that boy Baek Jun-woo. I stepped forward because I felt I could protect him comfortably.”

Sob.

Tears welled up in Hwi Someong’s eyes. Different tears from before.

Emotion touching on fanaticism.

The emotion of realizing one’s pettiness and foolishness before a great truth.

She bowed her head deeply and spoke.

“Ah… Please forgive my foolishness, Your Majesty the Magic Emperor.”

The Magic Emperor patted her shoulder and smiled kindly.

After Hwi Someong backed out of the room, the Magic Emperor slowly walked to the terrace.

The 65th floor, Abyssal Swamp. A region literally composed of bottomless deep swamps. It was the birthplace of all swamps and bottomless things in the world.

The allied command of Truth Tower-Society-Magic Tower was stationed by floating magical wooden rafts on that endless swampland and pitching tents on them.

Among them, the tent where the Magic Emperor resided was something that defied common sense for tents—an absurd structure with over ten stories and even a balcony.

The highest, most beautiful, and most prestigious tent among all three forces.

When the craftsmen of Truth Tower built this tent, they had said, ‘Due to weight restrictions, we couldn’t construct a proper building and had to compromise with a tent. We cannot contain our sorrow that Your Majesty must stay in such a place due to our incompetence…’ and shed tears.

“Haa…”

Suddenly the Magic Emperor sighed. For the first time in a very long while… perhaps the first genuine sigh in centuries.

The Magic Emperor knew it himself.

The fact that he had treated Hwi Someong particularly emotionally today.

He knew very well why that was.

‘I thought I was fine… but I was lonely.’

He had lived for 600 long years.

At first, he had friends and family, but at some point… especially after vowing to save the world, there were no friends around him. No… he couldn’t allow friends.

He had built karma approaching godhood by positioning himself above all mages.

And until now, he had lived without recognizing that it was hard and lonely.

Because truly equal beings—those who could be called friends—had completely disappeared at some point.

Like those craftsmen who built a historically magnificent tent yet wept in frustration… only those who lowered themselves uncomfortably remained.

What had initially felt awkward had long since become natural.

But Baek Jun-woo was different.

His difference had awakened senses the Magic Emperor had forgotten.

To the Magic Emperor, Baek Jun-woo was too young, still a weak mage… yet despite that, his magic contained elements the Magic Emperor couldn’t understand.

The incomprehensible spell that stopped the water calamity, and the tremendous power of the primordial spell called <Saíl>.

‘A being who knows things I don’t know…’

Most people encounter such individuals daily, but for the Magic Emperor, this was a major event occurring for the first time in centuries.

And that boy Baek Jun-woo, rather than bowing his head, only thought about how to defeat him.

That was unbearably amusing.

Was that why?

Hwi Someong, who only bowed and followed, felt frustrating today.

Though he had deliberately educated Hwi Someong to revere him fanatically, seeing her act exactly as taught felt disappointing.

Hwi Someong, whom he’d considered an excellent mage he’d raised, kept seeming insufficient.

“Huff…”

The Magic Emperor sighed for the second time in centuries.

Then he steeled his heart.

What’s the point of disappointment? What matters is what comes next.

Though Baek Jun-woo’s performance exceeding expectations had caused his long-prepared plans to flow in different directions, that wasn’t necessarily bad.

If he used this opportunity well, he could accomplish his long-cherished goal faster and more perfectly.

The Magic Emperor gazed at the moon’s reflection on the abyssal swamp and muttered.

“Good. Baek Jun-woo. I’ll open the path for you. Follow to the very end. I look forward to the day when we can converse at the same eye level.”

A deep smile formed on the Magic Emperor’s lips.

Not the kind smile he’d shown Hwi Someong, but a fierce yet joyful smile as if he might pounce at any moment.