The last words were a bombshell.
Elemental, Summon, Enchant, Illusion, and Under. These five Magic Towers are the center of the mage world.
‘In sports terms, they are the major league players.’
Below them existed Magic Towers established by kingdoms. While they receive significant support from their respective kingdoms, they are always beneath the five Magic Towers.
The five towers always maintained the top position.
Those who went to kingdom-run Magic Towers were mostly people who had been pushed out of power struggles within the major towers, or those who had ties to the royal families.
However, I had just popped out of nowhere and created something like an iron scroll. Having been taught magic by my Master, who is a War Mage.
‘I don’t even have any debt.’
Whether it is the five Magic Towers or the Malexia Magic Tower, there is no justification to bind me. I have emerged as a freelance mage, so to speak.
“So, what will be the Magic Tower’s answer? If it takes a long time, I may have to look for other business partners…”
“……Please wait a moment. Just a moment.”
***
Fortunately, Toden and Ruan knew my value. They began to operate communication magic. They were sending a report because they had to conduct an unexpected deal.
‘Hehe……’
I was watching them communicate with a happy expression.
Teleportation Magic Circles, mage support, monster carcass trade. Besides these, I added a few more conditions.
The best part among them was.
‘Installing a Magic Tower branch in the fortress. This is the biggest one.’
I requested the establishment of a Magic Tower branch here in the northern fortress, not even in the kingdom’s capital.
In a way, it is no different from inviting an outside force into my territory. However.
‘Where you place it is what matters.’
A Magic Tower branch is useful in itself beyond mere symbolism.
A mage’s tower is not just a building. A Magic Tower built as a tower is, in itself, no different from a magic item.
‘The funny part is that it is the biggest magic item in the world.’
Not to mention defensive magic circles, there are offensive magic circles to repel enemies in times of emergency. Inside, one installs illusion magic circles, and the most important thing is.
‘The tuning of mana.’
It means adjusting the mana in the surroundings through magic circles so that it is easier for mages to operate within the Magic Tower.
Near the Elemental Magic Tower, the success rate of elemental magic increases, and at the Summon Magic Tower, the success rate of summoning better creatures increases.
When the Enchant Magic Tower is built, the success rate of enchantments rises considerably in the surrounding area.
Each Magic Tower has its own secrets, and I have not yet gotten my hands on these secrets.
‘If I wait and see, there will be things to learn.’
In any case, just having a Magic Tower branch brings significant benefits. Especially for me, who is worried about the activities of orcs in the North, having such defenses was essential.
‘And while I am at it, I can watch the tower being built and learn things. Hehe.’
Now, I cast the bait, and the Magic Tower bit. They may drag it out and play tug-of-war, but the answer was already decided.
“……We accept the deal. Though the details will need to be adjusted.”
“As long as the four most important things are kept, I should be understanding about the details. So, what is the conclusion?”
Ruan bites her lip.
“……We, the Enchant Magic Tower, will accept the deal with Young Master Layrn Ophern.”
“It is a deal!”
Clap.
Ruan, who shook hands again, was frowning heavily. Even if no one was watching, I was smiling.
Very brightly!
‘How refreshing.’
It was just yesterday that the deal was finalized. Within a day, the Magic Tower seemed to have finished its preparations.
Vwooom-
Mages were transported incessantly through teleportation. Dozens of mages suddenly appeared in the fortress, which had no mages other than Reton and me.
“I am Sui. I intend to take on the role of branch manager later.”
“I am Sumid. I have come primarily to provide support.”
Among them, the two key figures were those who each possessed a total of five massive mana circles.
‘To send 5th Class mages. That is significant.’
It is known that even a Tower Master is at the 6th Class level, with 7th Class being the maximum. While there might be hidden power and secrets, the 5th Class is by no means weak.
Two powerful individuals who could obtain the rank of Count if they so desired had arrived at once.
‘Counting Toden, that makes three.’
The fact that they came meant that even the Magic Tower was paying significant attention to this.
Behind them, standing at attention, were ten 4th Class mages and twenty-five 3rd Class mages. And there were over thirty of these 2nd Class mages who appeared to be disciples.
‘To come all this way just to set up a branch. This is considerable.’
These mages exceeded the magical strength that the Marquis of Owen boasted about.
“Welcome to Laireun Castle.”
“It is we who have much to learn.”
All of them were looking at me like beasts eyeing their prey.
‘They intend to extract as much as possible.’
It was obvious that they had the intention to plunder the wealth I possess under the pretext of this deal.
Whether they will be able to obtain the secrets from me, or if I will obtain more from them, remains to be seen.
I was confident.
“Hehe. Well then, shall we get right to work?”
“That is what we have been waiting for.”
The talents of the Magic Tower have fallen into my hands. It is a temporary lease, but whether they remain as a temporary lease is a matter for the future.
Hiss-
A massive amount of molten iron flows down. Although it is insufficient compared to the one in the Holy City, it was a blast furnace capable of producing a significant quantity.
It did not end with just melting iron.
I whispered secretly.
“Make it intense today.”
-What is the compensation?
“Four times the usual.”
-……It is a deal. If we make a contract, I could even make it cheaper……
“Shut up and just do it.”
I was speaking to the Fire Spirit. The spirit, which feeds on my internal energy day by day, was becoming more powerful with each passing day. Even now, it was able to manifest its body more easily than before. Watching the spirit, which manifested itself quite ostentatiously, the mages said.
“Is that a spirit? Hmph……”
“I do not know if I should say you are lucky or not. It looks close to a high-ranking one.”
They were marveling.
However, their wonder was only just beginning.
“Activate!”
-“Good.”
The moment I finished speaking, like a trigger word.
“Hiss-“
The mana embedded in the molten iron moving about became even denser. I matched it by drawing up and sending a large amount of my mana, raising the concentration of mana in the iron.
“I, it really was true!”
“Can it be done like that? But the cost? What on earth did you sacrifice as payment?”
“……The type of power is strange.”
Whether the mages were surprised or not, the mana in the iron rose to its peak. Now was the most important time.
“Now!”
“Going in!”
At my signal, the artisans poured the molten iron, which had become scorching hot, into the pre-made molds without pause.
“Hiss-“
A portion became iron ingots. Another portion went into the molds prepared beforehand to be made into iron plates. It was not just about making iron plates.
‘I have calculated everything.’
The molds used to stamp out the iron plates had magic circles that I had designed and drawn in advance.
‘This is true mass production. Although it is still basic.’
Mass production is nothing complicated. If you can make things quickly, easily, and in large quantities, that is mass production.
Engraving magic circles like a cottage industry is one way. However, by making molds in advance and pouring molten iron into them, the basic stage of the iron plate scrolls could be easily completed.
Hundreds, thousands of iron plates are created at once! And with magic circles fully engraved!
“Freeze……”
***
Time passed quickly.
I cooled the molten iron, which had been glowing red, while adjusting it so that the iron would not be damaged by the sudden temperature change.
Clack. Clack.
The moment the iron plates were removed from the molds.
“Oh……”
“Let me see.”
The mages, who had been waiting without going anywhere, charged in like angry wild boars. Their momentum was fierce.
“It really is engraved. Well…… since it is an iron plate, I suppose this is possible.”
“To think one would make scrolls using a casting method.”
The mages examining the iron plates were all full of admiration. It appeared that they had never imagined that magic scrolls could be made in such a way.
‘The stereotype that you have to tear a scroll is the problem.’
For me, I simply made use of the iron as much as possible, as if I were creating a magic tool.
Of course, it is still in the early stages.
“Still, this one is a failure, right?”
“Hmm…… this one is also a failure. But it seems more than half were successful? Even that much is something, isn’t it?”
The casting method involves pouring molten iron into a mold and letting it cool to take the shape of the mold. Unlike things made by blacksmiths, they could be produced easily.
However, the problem is that the technology of this world is not yet precise. There were cases where gaps could be seen in places where complex magic circles were supposed to be engraved.
‘Since the artisans made the molds in a hurry, it does not matter. It is a problem that time will solve anyway.’
But even this much is something.
I obtained iron plates with magic circles engraved on them in an instant. Though some parts needed delicate repairs, I had good slaves—no, talents.
“What shall we do now?”
“You must assist. First, look at the design here and engrave the missing magic circles.”
“Oh, I understand! Can we do it right away?”
“Of course. Hehe.”
Are there not mages here who have shining eyes even when I give them work?
‘To slightly touch up the magic circles, one does not need aura.’
They began to move busily to engrave the magic circles.
Originally, magic circles were not easily shown to others.
‘Since it can be called the highest technology in this world.’
Magic is a secret skill. Mages do not sell or trade magic to just anyone. In the case of my Master, there were even times when he roamed the battlefield, rummaging through the belongings of opposing mages to learn magic.
Because of that, showing magic circles had significant meaning. It was the same for the mages who came from the Magic Tower.
“What on earth is this method?”
“I have no idea. Well, if it were easy to interpret, would he have shown it to us so easily?”
“Let us engrave it first. If we do, there will be something we can understand.”
The magic circle designs that I gave them to engrave on the iron plate scrolls were bound to become very valuable items.
They are magic circles created in a way that even the Enchant Magic Tower is unaware of.
‘Because it is mixed with Jinbeop.’
However, the operating performance is superior to that of the Enchant Magic Tower. The failure rate is low, and it even self-charges.
To them, it is a magic circle that works in a way that is no different from a fraud!
It may seem like I made it simply.
‘Jinbeop is not something that is easy.’
It is only easy for me, as I have mastered Jinbeop.
Jinbeop is different from magic, yet similar.
Jinbeop itself originally required an understanding of the Five Elements, knowing Yin and Yang, and interpreting the world.
Magic also requires understanding the world, but it interprets and approaches it in a completely different way from Jinbeop. It is similar, yet different.
Therefore.
“Did you establish an entirely new concept?”
“Even a genius could not do that!”
“Then how is this even working?”
No matter how much the mages rack their brains, interpreting the magic circles is impossible. It is close to impossible.
‘Let them try to interpret it.’
Therefore, it was not an easy task for them to gain magical knowledge from me.
‘There is nothing without a price.’
‘Does it not feel like I have bitten into a very good pushover?’