Chapter 6

The small stone Do-Jin had thrown rippled outward, spreading rapidly through the entirety of the Empire’s Magic Tower. This was thanks to the relentless efforts of the lower-ranked mages, scrambling to seize even the smallest scraps of information to deliver to their superiors, all of whom had similar reactions.

“What? That guy from the Adventurers’ Guild went into the Ten Thousand Archive?”

“What? He’s a Regenian? Then he must’ve crossed the Gate!”

“What? He mentioned

that

person?”

“Wait, there’s some sort of agreement between the Adventurers’ Guild and

that

person?”

These higher-ranking mages abruptly dropped whatever they were doing and bolted for the exit. Their reckless curiosity often drove them to risk not only their own lives but others’ as well. Nothing provoked that impulse more than the mention of the Black rank. For the mages of Elthomagia, those words alone were enough to warrant immediate investigation, no matter who had spoken them.

More importantly, the mages saw this as a rare opportunity to reach the very top floor of the Magic Tower.

One of them cleared their throat and stated, “Well, as busy as I am, I think we must handle this delicate matter with precision to maintain good relations with the Adventurers’ Guild. And for that, we’d need to consult that person directly... meaning someone has to head to the top floor. Unfortunately, it’ll have to be me.”

After all, who wouldn’t jump at the chance to experience the infamous independent dimensional magic of the Black Floor, a magic so intricate that unauthorized intruders would wander endlessly before being expelled from the tower altogether?

“

Haha

, aren’t you swamped with work lately? I heard you’re conducting an important experiment for magical advancements. Let an old retiree like me handle this trivial matter. You just focus on your research.”

“Now, now, seniors, let’s not say such things. Isn’t it proper for us juniors to handle these minor issues? You should focus on preparing for the upcoming magical symposium. Leave this matter to me. I’ll resolve it efficiently.”

It was no surprise that the mages of Elthomagia were utterly fixated when word of this incident spread.

“What the... Look at this punk. What’s your rank, huh?” a hot-tempered mage snapped.

“Why are you bringing up ranks here?”

“It’s Elthomagia. What else would we talk about?”

In the end, the mages, each insisting on being the one to climb to the top floor, descended into an all-out brawl, clutching each other’s hair and shouting accusations.

***

While the oh-so-dignified mages were tossing aside their decorum and yanking each other’s hair in a frenzied brawl, Do-Jin found himself face-to-face with an unexpected visitor, a black cat.

“I felt someone tickling my ears, so I came to see who it was... and it turns out to be a child from another world,” the black cat said, chuckling as its gaze alternated between the bewildered low-ranking mage and Do-Jin, who stood there frozen.

“What are you staring at? It’s all so predictable. I’m Sion.”

Sion Grace, the Black Mage at the pinnacle of Elthomagia, was one of only five Archmages on the entire continent. Appearing in the form of her symbolic black cat, she radiated an aura that demanded awe.

“How do you know about the ‘promise’? There shouldn’t be many left who remember it, least of all the current Adventurers’ Guild.”

Sion’s sudden question left Do-Jin momentarily breathless.

There was no mention of Sion showing up here...

By all rights, an NPC like her should’ve shown up much later, after more than five years had passed and only after resolving several Elthomagia-related quests. Clearly, his decision to exploit this hidden quest early on had caused some unforeseen ripples. But just because things had deviated didn’t mean the situation was unfavorable.

Just meeting someone of her caliber is already lucky in itself.

Sion Grace was a figure so monumental that simply encountering her carried significance. To let such an opportunity pass with nothing more than a brief exchange would be a terrible waste. Do-Jin began sifting through his future knowledge, focusing on any information about Sion he could leverage.

Something immediate... something guaranteed to grab her attention...

He didn’t need to overthink it. The first thing that came to mind was the episode involving her old companion, who had vanished into the dimensional boundary. As luck would have it, that very location had ties to Regenians, players like him.

“I’m a Regenian,” Do-Jin declared.

“I know. You’re the foreigner who’s been denied death.”

“That means I crossed the Gate to get here.”

“There’s no need to repeatedly state the obvious.”

Do-Jin shook his head. “There is. Because during my crossing, I encountered your old companion.”

The cat’s eyes widened, and her movements froze. Perhaps even her heart skipped a beat. Despite being an Archmage, Sion couldn’t hide her shock. Before she could regain her composure, however, Do-Jin pressed on.

“To be precise, I heard their whispers. Most of it faded during the crossing, but I remember two things: that they were your companion, and that I, as a Regenian, am entitled to certain privileges from Elthomagia. And—”

“Wait,” Sion interrupted, her feline eyes narrowed into sharp slits. “That happened before I shared the promise with the Adventurers’ Guild. Are you saying they

told

you about it?”

A staggering amount of mana rippled outward from her small form. Despite being a Regenian, Do-Jin was well aware of the power disparity. She was an Archmage capable of binding his soul to this world, restricting his respawn point, and killing him repeatedly without mercy.

Even as the air grew dense with visible mana, Do-Jin didn’t flinch. He had anticipated this reaction and prepared accordingly.

“And...” Do-Jin picked up right where he had been cut off, still unfazed despite her increasingly sharp stare. “I remember the message they wanted me to deliver to you.”

Her eyes lost their sharpness in an instant. “What did you say? A message? From them? For me?”

Seeing the sorrow clouding her eyes, Do-Jin felt a brief pang of guilt, but he quickly steeled himself.

This part isn’t a lie, at least...

In the original timeline, Sion had never reunited with her lost companion. Yet, the feelings that companion had held onto remained clear in Do-Jin’s memory. Relaying those emotions now wasn’t a cruel act, it was perhaps the only kindness he could offer.

“They wanted me to tell you... that they can still hear your voice, even from there. They said the stories you told kept them grounded, reminding them of who they are.”

Sion audibly gasped, her small body trembling as if she was being crushed underneath the weight of longing and guilt.

She remembered standing at the edge of the dimensional boundary, pouring her heart out into the void. It had sounded more like a diary entry than an attempt to communicate. She’d told herself she didn’t expect those words to reach anyone, but deep down, she knew that was a lie. As a mage, her rational mind had always concluded the chance was near zero.

And yet, they had been heard.

“That’s... a relief.” In a dazed voice, Sion murmured to herself, staring silently into the void for a long moment.

Then, turning her gaze to Do-Jin, she asked quietly, “Do you recall any other words? Anything at all?”

Do-Jin nodded and shared the final words Sion’s companion had left behind: “Thank you, and I’m sorry.”

The black cat seemed to stop breathing once more. To Sion, it was nothing short of astonishing. Perhaps it was longing, bitterness, resentment, or guilt. The myriad emotions she had carried for what felt like an eternity seemed to melt away in an instant, reduced to those two simple phrases. It amazed her how something so profound could feel so light.

I should go back

, Sion decided.

If she stayed any longer, she might lose her composure in front of these inexperienced young ones. And more than that, today, she wanted to indulge in the memories she had been trying so hard to suppress. But before leaving, there was still one matter to address.

This outsider needs to be dealt with.

Though it hadn’t been long since humans from other worlds were first summoned as mercenaries, countless Regenians had already crossed over. Yet, this was her first time encountering someone who had directly interacted with her lost companion. It might have been sheer chance—or perhaps not.

If nothing else, he must have shown potential to be chosen. That companion of mine wouldn’t have made the choice lightly.

With that thought, Sion tapped the air lightly with her paw. A ripple spread, and a luxurious wooden ring appeared from the void, flying toward Do-Jin.

“Carry this ring with you, and any door you open with it will lead to the Ten Thousand Archive, but only once.”

“Thank you.”

“No need. For someone who brought me such good news after so long, this much is nothing.”

With those words, Sion smiled faintly through the cat’s mouth before vanishing. Her departure was as swift as her arrival.

The moment she disappeared, a new system message appeared before Do-Jin.

[Relationship Established!]

[Sion Grace, Master of Elthomagia, has taken an interest in you.]

[Sion Grace’s favorability has increased by 10 points, reaching a total of 10.]

Building a relationship with a high-profile NPC like Sion Grace was already a massive accomplishment, opening up countless new quest opportunities. On top of that, gaining 10 favorability points with her was remarkable. For someone like Sion, whose favorability required significant quests and major events to increase, this was an exceptional number.

Of course, Sion Grace would likely remain in seclusion for quite a while longer, so the benefits of this encounter were clear. Once characters of Sion’s caliber start making their moves, things will be different.

It wasn’t as though Do-Jin planned to stop playing anytime soon. Thinking about the rewards that would come later, he felt thoroughly satisfied. He stared at the ring in his palm, a smile spreading on his face.

His train of thought was broken by the urgent voice of the lower-ranked mage. “U-um, excuse me!”

Nearly startled, Do-Jin turned and realized he’d completely forgotten about the lower-ranked mage.

Oh, right. She’s still here.

***

The junior mage had practically forgotten to breathe during the entire ordeal. She was left stunned as the black cat appeared, accompanied by the sensation of mana in the vicinity settling into perfect stillness. It was an experience that would send shivers down the spine of any mage—a fleeting sensation so profound, it felt like catching a glimpse of a new horizon and becoming one step closer to enlightenment.

She had no doubt in her mind that the black cat was Sion Grace. The Alpha and Omega of the Empire’s Magic Tower, Elthomagia. The one all mages, herself included, revered to the point of obsession.

She strained to listen, desperate to catch every word of the conversation taking place nearby. Not even the most trivial detail would escape her if she could help it. Unfortunately, it was impossible for her to hear their exchange. She couldn’t even read the lips of the man named Do-Jin.

The junior mage knew immediately that it was the effect of Sion Grace’s innate perceptual disruption magic, a high-tier spell she wielded as effortlessly as breathing.

Still, curiosity clawed at her like a vice.

What are they talking about?

What kind of conversation could Sion be having with someone who had only just earned the title of mage? Her curiosity reached its peak when she saw Sion give Do-Jin the wooden ring. She couldn’t figure out what they were talking about, but one thing was certain: whatever had just occurred was monumental.

That Regenian definitely has something.

The mage was certain this man had a connection with Sion Grace. She pulled out the Letter of Recommendation she had tucked away in a drawer and checked his name again.

Do-Jin... I can’t let him slip away.

Her eyes burned with determination as they locked onto Do-Jin.

“U-um, excuse me!”

***

“What’s up?”

“The black cat just now... That was Sion Grace, wasn’t it?”

Do-Jin hesitated, wondering if she had somehow failed to overhear their conversation. Still, he nodded in confirmation.

But why was she breathing so heavily? And why was she biting her lip as if she was trying to keep herself in check? Without realizing, Do-Jin found himself edging backward. Staying here any longer felt like a bad idea.

I knew it. There isn’t a single mage who’s normal.

Entertaining his own mage-prejudiced thoughts, Do-Jin decided it was best to get out of there as quickly as possible. If he stayed, he might catch whatever madness seemed to infect mages. He was just about to turn the doorknob and make his escape when a sudden crash erupted behind him.

Turning around, he saw the junior mage, who had been seated calmly moments ago, launching herself over the table like she was possessed. The sheer ferocity of it was so shocking and bizarre that Do-Jin nearly cried out.

The mage, now clinging to Do-Jin’s shoulders as if her life depended on it, fired off her words like rapid-fire bullets, each one half-question, half-demand. “Do you need a magic spellbook by any chance? I have some debts to pay off, so I can’t give you two, but I could spare one! So, erm... how about we introduce ourselves first?”

Every fiber of Do-Jin’s being wanted to refuse, to declare that he didn’t need some lousy Tier 1 skill book and run for his life. But what came out of his mouth was something entirely different.

“I’ll take Psychokinesis then, thanks.”

He had 300 gold from the rewards for crossing the Gate, but even the cheapest Tier 1 magic spellbook cost at least 150 gold. The alternative was to buy a regular magic book and learn the skill, but that was a slow and inefficient process, often taking an entire day to master a single spell. If someone was offering him a free spellbook, there was no reason not to accept.

Of course, it wasn’t because of her unblinking, borderline unhinged stare. Definitely not.

After Do-Jin received the spellbook, the mage now introduced herself in a slightly calmer fashion, “I am Sisala Omen, a Yellow Mage from the greatest Magic Tower, Elthomagia.”

Wait a minute. Sisala Omen? Hold on... Omen? Could she be...?

It hit him like a lightning bolt. This was none other than the future master craftsman of magical items and the owner of Omen’s Magic Workshop.

Establishing a connection with such a named character and raising her favorability? On top of gaining the secret item that allowed access to the Ten Thousand Archive? He felt like he had hit the jackpot and then some.

He had assumed she was just an extra—a lowly mage, or worse, some kind of spirit-possessed lunatic. Instead, she turned out to be

the

Sisala Omen, a name destined to become legendary.

This was sweet. So sweet it was almost sickening. If sweetness like this could cause diabetes, Do-Jin was ready to contract it a thousand times over. Who cared if she seemed crazy? If she was valuable and useful, that was all that mattered.

“I’m Do-Jin,” he said.

Do-Jin reached out to shake hands with his new benefactor, or rather, his new

moneymaker

.