Chapter 1304. The Magic Tower (17)

‘What the hell kind of screwed-up situation is this?’

It was impossible to think otherwise.

“H-Hurry over here, hyungs!” I[1] shouted.

‘Why all of a sudden...’

Big Boy and Carlton came running frantically toward me.

Yoojin was slumped over Carlton’s shoulder.

Chimeras were following closely behind them, and among them, some looked as if they had fused with demons. I wasn't talking about random weak monsters, but actual demons.

“Faster! Hurry!” I shouted.

“Y-You!”

‘Damn, they look like they have many questions they want to ask.’

“You little brat... just how the hell?!”

‘I already told you that I can use magic.’

Their faces screamed for another explanation, but there was no way we could sit here and talk about that while under this kind of pressure.

Big Boy’s face brightened when he saw that I was still alive. A sense of relief was written all over his face. Of course, given how dire the situation was, I had no choice but to yell.

“Get inside, quick! She’s still alive!” I shouted.

“What? Y-Yoojin is still alive?” Carlton asked.

“Yes! So hurry up and get inside!” I answered.

“What about you?!” he asked.

“I’ll hold them off until you’re in! H-Hurry! I can’t hold back much longer!” I shouted.

The alchemy summoning spell that I cast using a cheap tentacle as a catalyst wasn’t enough to hold the chimeras at bay.

With one hand maintaining the spell, I shoved the other into my bag and pulled out a Dragon’s Breath potion. I hurled the potion at them and

boom!

The chimeras collapsed.

The special variant was still alive, but there was no denying that it had taken heavy damage.

‘Damn it... I wasn’t planning on using it.’

It wasn’t just any potion. The potion contained a condensed fragment of Dialugia’s Dragon Breath. I couldn't even remember when it was made, but one thing was certain—the destructive force that a Dragon’s Breath Potion could unleash was by no means

small.

After countless refinements, upgrades, and modifications over the years, its destructive power became anything but ordinary. The moment the potion was activated, it was like an actual dragon’s breath swept across the battlefield. The explosion carved blazing arcs of mana through the air, tearing through the enemies in its path.

“

Grrruuuuuugh!

”

“

Keeeeeeegh!

”

Kabooooooooom!

Craaaaaaash!

‘This is exactly why I didn’t want to use it.’

At least it hadn’t yet come to the point where I had to pull out a Light Bomb potion. Big Boy and the others stared blankly at the devastation, and their expressions were caught somewhere between disbelief and shock.

Since they hadn’t seen me throw the potion, they probably assumed that I cast some unknown, terrifying spell.

‘Damn it... might as well let them think that.’

“Wh-What the hell, kid—”

“Hurry inside! Hurry! Hurry!” I rushed them.

“

Ah...

d-damn it!”

“It’s dangerous! Move! Quick!” I shouted.

They were looking at me like I was some kind of monster.

Well, of course they would look at me like

that

.

The stray kid they picked up suddenly cast strange spells left and right.

Big Boy’s face in particular carried even a hint of betrayal. I

told

him I knew how to use magic, but now, he was staring at me as if asking if I was really the same kid he knew.

There was nothing I could do, so I turned to run in panic, only to trip and crash to the ground.

“

Huh? Ah!

”

‘I tripped!’

Big Boy was already at the gate that was closing shut, and he was shocked when he saw me fall to the ground. With clenched teeth, he bolted back outside the gate, scooped me up, and ran for safety once again.

“B-Big Boy hyung,” I mumbled.

“Damn it, you little brat! Where the hell have you been?!” Big Boy shouted angrily.

“I-I don’t know either,” I answered.

“Damn it! I told you to stay in the room, didn’t I?! I told you not to go anywhere, stay put, and keep your head down! You don’t remember that?!” Big Boy questioned.

“I-I’m sorry, hyung...” I said.

Sniffle, sniffle.

“You’d better explain later and be ready for one hell of a scolding,” he warned.

‘You’re going to scold me?! Damn it!’

“Y-Yes, sir!” I answered.

From the perspective of a clueless kid, the only thing to do was smile with relief. After all, I was worried that Big Boy would see me as a monster. Just knowing that Big Boy still loved me as usual made tears of joy well up and spill from the eyes of this socially awkward self.

‘This is just like a move.’

It was like a scene straight out of an escape film.

Even while exchanging a few rushed words, the chimeras were still chasing us, and the gate was only moments away from closing. Big Boy had no strength left to talk. All he could do was grit his teeth and keep running with everything he had.

And as always, the protagonist and their companions would slip through the gate in the nick of time. With a heavy

thud,

the gates slammed shut, and those inside erupted into cheers at the sight of us making it through.

‘What the hell are they cheering for? Is the war over?’

“Priest! Is there a priest here?!” Carlton shouted.

“M-Me! I can heal her!” I answered.

Of course, the work wasn’t finished yet. I rushed straight to Yoojin and let out a stream of holy power. If I were in the God of Sacrifice and Revival mode, things would be easier, but I couldn’t do that.

At the moment, ensuring that she was breathing was the right thing to do here.

“You...” Big Boy mumbled.

‘Are you just going to keep being shocked every time I do something?’

“Please give me her leg,” I said.

“What?”

“Her leg. I need to reattach it while it’s still possible,” I said.

I pulled out a potion and carefully poured it into Yoojin’s mouth. Soon enough, a bit of color returned to her face. By the time a priest had rushed over and laid hands on her to cast a healing spell, Yoojin’s condition was already stabilizing.

Regardless of what had happened, we could finally breathe.

“

Whoo...

” I sighed.

“Damn it... is she alive? Yoojin... is still alive?” Carlton asked.

“I-I managed to patch her up for now, Carlton hyung. She’s still not out of the woods yet, so we need to keep her stable. Big Boy hyung, please help Carlton hyung,” I requested.

“Of course, but before that... you’ve got some explaining to do, don’t you?” Big Boy asked.

“...”

“...”

“I-I already told you. I can use magic,” I stuttered.

“That’s not what I’m talking about. I mean, at best I thought—”

“H-Hyung, you never asked...” I interrupted him.

“

Whoo...

right, I never asked... Damn it... I was never curious... but still...” Big Boy muttered, his voice trembling a bit.

“Are you... disappointed in me?” I asked back.

“Yeah,” Big Boy answered.

“...”

“I’m disappointed that you didn’t keep your promise. Damn it. I clearly told you to stay put in the room. Where the hell were you wandering around?!” Big Boy yelled.

‘Ah... this guy’s too easy.’

“Yeah, kid. Damn it. Do you know how much of a fuss I made trying to find you?! But... thanks. You little brat! For saving Yoojin! I don’t know how the hell you can use holy power, too, but because of you, she’s alive!” Big Boy continued.

Even Carlton pulled me into a hug.

Big Boy, who rarely showed his emotions, added, “At least you’re safe... That’s a relief.”

He gave me a light hug, too.

“

Heh... hehehe...

”

A crocodile tear slipped out of me.

“I’m glad you’re safe. Whatever happened, the fact that you’re alive... that’s all that matters. Yoojin’s not dead either, and her legs are still attached...” Big Boy said.

“

Hehehe...

” I chuckled.

“Yoojin. Before she passed out, she was muttering things about you. When she wakes up, she’ll faint again, thinking she’s in heaven,” Big Boy joked.

“

Heh... hehehehehe...

”

Of course, afterward...

“

Huh...

kid?” Big Boy called out.

“

Heh... hehe... oh?

” I said.

‘Oh?’

Collapsing to the ground was the standard ending.

I closed my eyes and staggered as if I had spent every ounce of my strength.

“Kid!” Carlton yelled.

“Y-You little brat!” Big Boy shouted.

“I-I’m just... sleepy...” I mumbled.

“What’s going on, Carlton? Priest? We need a priest over here!” Big Boy shouted.

“I-It’s nothing serious...” I said.

As soon as I closed my eyes, I felt someone’s hands catch me. Big Boy rushed off somewhere in a panic, probably to fetch a priest. I worried for a moment that things would escalate, but thankfully, Carlton managed to calm him down.

“Damn it... damn it! Kid!” Big Boy yelled.

“Calm down, Big Boy. Looks like he’s just asleep,” Carlton told him.

“How the hell am I supposed to calm down in this situation? The kid—”

“Exactly. Look closely. He’s just sleeping... His breathing’s fine... He must’ve burned through too much mana. He just overdid it,” Carlton explained.

“

Uh...

”

“...”

“...”

“Carlton... what the hell did we pick up?” Big Boy asked.

“How should I know, you bastard? Stop asking me everything,” Carlton complained.

“...”

"We’ve said it before, but clearly, he wasn’t just some ordinary retainer. However, he doesn’t look like a battle retainer either... His hands and feet are too smooth... Even if he’s a mage, no battle retainer could be maintained

this

well.

"Want my honest take? That was his first time in real combat. When we first met him, he was just a scared brat who nearly pissed himself in fear. However, he mustered up courage... enough courage to save you, me, and all of us. So don’t be too suspicious of him," Carlton explained.

“Who says I was being suspicious?! Damn it. Th-That’s not the point. What I want to know is, how the hell can this brat use magic like that...” Big Boy questioned.

“How the hell would I know?! Stop asking me everything, damn it. He’s probably just some lab experiment. The kid’s no liar. He’s been saying all day that he could use magic, begging us to take him along. He must’ve said it dozens of times. Who was it that ignored him,

huh?

” Carlton questioned.

“Yeah, but... I thought he was just throwing a tantrum,” Big Boy mumbled.

“And that tentacle spell earlier... I have never heard of anything like it. Same with that strange light. He said that he was rotting away in some lab, so he was probably trained or was an experimental subject for all sorts of spells. Do I really have to spell this out for you, Big Boy?” Carlton asked.

“...”

“Damn it,” Big Boy muttered.

‘Why does he look so down?’

“Anyway... is Yoojin okay?” Big Boy asked.

“You know her. She’s tough as nails. She’s already mumbling in her sleep. Forget her and just look after the kid. And Big Boy, when Yoojin wakes up, you'd better thank her. Without her, you would have died,” Carlton reminded Big Boy.

“Yeah... Yoojin saved my life,” Big Boy said.

“Still, Big Boy... you’ve got to fix that habit of losing your head whenever the kid’s involved. Keep that up, and you’ll die before it’s your time,” Carlton advised him.

“Who says I lose my head?! I just...” Big Boy trailed off.

I could hear Big Boy and Carlton talking. Soon, cheers rang out as people cried out loud, saying that they had survived the horrifying ordeal.

Since we made it into Heren's Castle, everyone seemed convinced that they were finally safe and that their lives were spared for the time being.

‘We're like rats in a trap, and they haven't even realized it. Shit.’

Anyone could see that we were herded here on purpose. The defensive barrier protecting the castle wouldn’t last a day if the chimeras actually attacked it.

The only reason they hadn’t stormed in yet was simple.

They were waiting for someone, and that

someone

was pretty obvious.

“...”

“...”

It was none other than Kim Hyun-Sung.

Unfortunately...

‘Damn it. That bastard... he went to Lindel.’

He wasn’t in Heren right now.

‘Our Hyun-Sung went to Lindel, damn it.’

The timing was so absurd that I almost laughed.

1. Lee Ki-Young’s POV ☜