Chapter 67: The Thug in the Tower

"Thank you for your hard work."

"Not at all. Then, I'll be going."

That was the end of his business.

As soon as the Water Strider Spray's duration wore off, Levan sprayed it onto his boots again and sped back to Gald Castle.

Upon returning to Gald Castle, Levan went straight to find Hagon.

"Hagon-nim."

"Oh, you're back?"

As Hagon greeted him warmly, Levan first returned the letter of delegation. He also made sure not to forget to report on the proxy inspection.

"I made sure to sign the inspection paper."

"Heh, signing the inspection paper is optional, really. More importantly, did you solve your curiosity?"

"Yes. I found out who the Nameless Exiles are."

"And who are they?"

"The Nameless Exiles I was searching for were the Masterials."

"Masterials? Heh, your curiosity is rather dangerous. Can I ask why you were interested in them?"

Because of the Director's gift, Hagon's favorability toward Levan had exceeded 70.

That was trustworthy enough.

Still, it was difficult to explain the quest to an NPC, so Levan decided to loosely tie it to the Central Mage Tower Association.

"I'm not on good terms with the Central Mage Tower Association. You could say we're sworn enemies. I heard the Masterials are imprisoned because of those Central Mage Tower bastards."

"So, you intend to help them?"

"Yes. I'm planning to rescue all of them who are unjustly imprisoned."

"Do you have the power to do so?"

"I don't think I'm lacking."

"I'm curious about your plan."

"I don't have a concrete plan yet. But I have something in mind, so I'll dig into that first."

"Hmm, I see..."

Hagon closed his eyes, thinking quietly after hearing Levan's words.

Then, he opened his eyes and spoke to Levan.

"Very well. In that case, I'll help you from now on, too."

"Excuse me? You, Hagon-nim?"

"I'm well aware of the stories between the kingdom, the Masterials, and those Central Mage Tower bastards caught in the middle. So, anyone with a good head on their shoulders doesn't like the Central Mage Tower much. My decision to help you is simply because we share the same goal."

"I see."

The simpler the reason, the better.

The more grandiose, the more suspicious it would seem.

Hagon said,

"It's a pity. Honestly, this problem could be easily solved if we brought in the War Mage."

"...Sorry?"

"The War Mage, I mean. I did some digging myself to help the Masterials. When all this happened, I realized the most effective way to resolve it would be to bring the mage known as the War Mage here. By the way, do you know anything about the War Mage?"

Hagon then spent a while explaining the War Mage to Levan.

The War Mage, in the past, had been strong enough to overwhelm all other mages, and rumor had it that he used magic through a cube.

Levan couldn't help but feel flustered.

What's with this guy?

Does he know I'm the War Mage?

But as he listened, he couldn't deny he was intrigued.

Come to think of it, nothing would solve this situation more effectively than bringing the War Mage here.

'As expected of Gald Castle's scholar.'

Once again, Levan was impressed by Hagon's knowledge. But he had no intention of revealing his identity to Hagon.

Even if he told Hagon he was the War Mage, nothing would change.

After listening to Hagon for a while, Levan left the library.

---

After leaving the library, Levan checked the Epic Quest he had put off.

"Quest check."

['Quest: The Nameless Exiles' has been completed.]

[Quest rewards will be given.]

The reward was just as stated: a few Cube Fragments.

The important thing now was the next Epic Cube to unlock.

Levan picked up the newly acquired Epic Cube and began solving it.

Click-clack—

[You have successfully solved Rubix's Epic Cube.]

[An Epic Quest has been triggered.]

[Freedom to the Faithful]

- Grade: Epic, Special, Unique.
- Condition: Rescue all Masterials imprisoned in the Prison of the Swamp.
- Reward: Rubix's Epic Cube, Rubix's Skill Cube Fragment, Rubix's Treasure Cube Fragment.

"Hmm."

Upon confirming the quest, Levan let out a low groan.

Up to now, the Epic Quests had always provided a chain of sub-quests before the final quest, each giving hints for the last step.

But this quest was different.

'So now I have to do it on my own?'

Freedom to the Faithful.

With a name that sounded like a final quest, this quest gave Levan no more hints—only left him with a daunting task.

Levan gazed up at the sky after checking the quest.

'Damn, just more of that Rubix personality...'

Since Rubix was the one giving these Epic Quests, this was probably Rubix's doing.

Thinking that, Levan felt a strange sense of challenge.

'Fine. I can't keep getting spoon-fed forever. I can already take down triple-digit-level monsters by myself, right?'

Levan was level 64.

It was lower than during his days as a blunt weapon warrior, but he was confident that his strength now far surpassed his former self.

So, from this quest on, he resolved to handle everything by himself.

'Time to get started.'

To carry out his plan, he needed to form one first.

Knowing the heart of the problem, Levan decided to test if his idea would work.

So he shouted at the sky.

"Rubix-nim!"

......

"Rubix-nim! I know you're watching. So please answer me!"

......

Silence.

Even after calling twice, there was no response. Levan sighed and shook his head.

'Of course. That damn divine seat.'

Then again, if he popped up every time he was called, that'd be even funnier.

Abandoning hopes of talking to Rubix, Levan put on his mask.

'Didn't expect anything anyway. At this point, I'll just go with the original plan.'

Wearing his mask, Levan headed straight for the Mage Tower located within Gald Castle.

The name of the Mage Tower: Gald Tower.

Such a straightforward naming sense.

Arriving at the Mage Tower, Levan opened the door and entered.

There, a young mage in charge of the lobby greeted him.

"Who are you?"

"Who am I? It's me, you brat!"

Bang!!

Instead of answering the mage's question, Levan responded by gifting him a blow with his black iron mace.

A shattered desk.

The startled mage shouted,

"W-Who are you! What do you think you're doing! If you keep this up, you'll be eating beans in jail...!"

"Call them."

"Excuse me?"

"Call your boss. But if you do, you'll be the one in trouble."

"What do you mean...?"

"Look closely. See who I am."

For the confused young mage, Levan took off his mask.

After tilting his head for a few seconds, the mage suddenly recognized Levan's face and shouted in panic.

"Y-You, you, you're—!"

"Yeah, it's me, you bastards! So hurry and bring your leader out!"

Bang!!

With that, Levan swung his black iron mace again, smashing the reception desk to pieces.

The ruckus drew out the mages who had been holed up in their laboratories in Gald Tower.

"What's going on?"

"Why's the lobby wrecked again?"

"Huh? That, that guy is...?"

The mages who gathered were shocked twice.

First, by the arrival of a thug; second, by realizing that thug was the War Mage.

Levan shouted,

"Bring me your leader, NOW!!"

The round structure of the tower made Levan's voice bounce off the walls, creating a massive echo.

It was then.

[Rubix is extremely pleased with your actions.]

[Rubix gifts you 3 Rubix's Skill Cube Fragments.]

Out of nowhere, Rubix's sponsorship came through. Seeing Rubix's sponsorship message, Levan frowned.

'No answer when I'm looking for you, but now you're...'

He hadn't expected anything anyway.

Ignoring the sponsorship, Levan continued his rampage, smashing up the first-floor lobby.

There was nothing to fear.

If the mages here called the royal army, it would be like admitting their own defeat.

'Ah, I should start a livestream at times like this.'

Viewers who loved this kind of drama would surely turn it into a donation party.

At that moment, the deputy tower master of Gald Tower appeared.

"You scoundrel! Stop this rampage at once!!"

Yelling at the top of his lungs, the man's name was Peron.

He was the deputy tower master of Gald Tower.

Levan asked for his identity as Peron arrived.

"What, you're the boss here?"

"I'm Peron, the deputy tower master of Gald Tower!"

"Not the lackey—I told you to bring the boss!!"

Bang!!

Like an out-of-control eight-ton truck.

No one could stop Levan.

Face flushed bright red, Peron shouted,

"The tower master is absent! I'll handle you myself, so come at me!"

"No thanks."

"What?"

"I told you. Lackeys can step aside. Don't tell me the boss is too scared to show up?"

"Nonsense! You're only here because you knew the tower master was away!"

"Oh, is that how it sounds?"

At Peron's provocation, Levan finally stopped hammering.

"Oh, so you're stepping up now."

Levan, ceasing his rampage, jeered at Peron.

"Fine, I'll take down the tower master later. For now, let's see what you've got."

"D-Deputy Tower Master!"

"It's fine! I'll handle him, don't worry!"

Peron reassured his subordinate mages and drew his wand.

But Levan could see it.

The cold sweat beading on Peron's forehead.

Levan grinned.

"That's a good stance. Sometimes a man has to step into a losing fight. We'll need a judge, right? God of Duels!"

[Summoning the God of Duels.]

At Levan's call, the God of Duels was summoned.

"Hello, hello! You've called me again!"

The God of Duels appeared, cheerful and lively.

Levan greeted the god with matching enthusiasm.

"Yes, it's me again. This time, I'd like to request a regular duel. As for the stakes..."

Before he set the terms, Levan glanced at Peron and smiled.

"I'll stake my neck."

"Your neck! That's even bolder than last time! So you're that confident, huh? Good. He's staked his neck, so what about you?"

"I..."

At the god's question, Peron hesitated.

The Association's orders only required him to submit to defeat by a simple duel, but now his opponent was staking his neck?

For Peron, who preferred a long, quiet life, those were heavy terms.

But the subordinate mages behind him were all watching.

So, whether he liked it or not, if he wanted to avoid disgrace, he had to stake his own neck too.

Then it happened.

"Stake one of your spells. I don't need your neck."

A savior appeared for Peron.

Ironically, that savior was none other than his nemesis—Levan.