The final results of the Republic of Korea's Official Rank-5 Certficiation Exam were posted.

1st. Ha Yeonwoo - Unix Guild.

...

5th. Jin Bora – Korea Hunter Academy.

...

12th. Eunsol – Unaffiliated.

14th. Na Daeyong - Unaffiliated.

...

21st. Kim Sarang - Unaffiliated.

...

40th. Jo Yonghee - Unaffiliated.

47th. Cha Doyeon – Unaffiliated.

52nd. Seo Shimhee - Unaffiliated.

...

121st. Jeong Seojin – Unaffiliated.

Not only the three administrators, but all five members of the Fourth Floor Team had passed. It was a momentous occasion. Na Daeyong, in particular, had come from a non-combat background and broken into the top ranks, surpassing the fiercely competitive Labyrinth Generation.

The administrators' results weren't surprising. Bora had been skilled enough for the student council even before joining the tower, and Eunsol had both her game-changing golem and a wealth of hunting experience. Seojin, if he had truly wanted to, could have easily aimed for second or third place behind the top prospect, Ha Yeonwoo. However, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention, he'd committed just enough minor infractions to drop his rank without getting disqualified.

As for their rivals, the X-1 team, backed by Garam, their leader, Chu Hyungseok, finished in 22nd place, but two of his teammates failed. They had the skill to survive the final battle, but it seemed the extreme stress of the preliminaries had broken their morale. As expected, their mentality was the problem.

In the post-exam review articles, the Fourth Floor members were highlighted as one of the event's biggest stories.

[All 5 Members of Mage Kim Yusin's Personal Squad Pass Official Rank-5 Exam!]

[An Unprecedented Achievement for Non-Combat Classes! What Magic Did Kim Yusin Weave?]

The publicity was good, but it also brought a new set of headaches. Shin Nara, my manager, was flooding my phone with messages.

—Nara: Yusin! An invitation from the Élysée Palace...

—Nara: Yusin! Assemblywoman Kim Jihui is asking for you...

—Nara: Yusin! The BBC requested an interview...

—Nara: Yusin! Cambridge wants you to give a lecture...

Countless lecture requests, meeting proposals, event invitations—the whole world was suddenly paying attention to magic. I typed out a firm reply.

—Yusin: It's fine. Please politely decline them as usual.

—Nara: Are you sure? There are some really incredible offers this time. It's a huge opportunity to raise your profile and promote magic globally.

There was no need for that kind of promotion. Moving too fast was just as bad as moving too slow. This pace was just right. I sent another message asking her to decline, then headed to Sanggye Station, where everyone was waiting.

"There he is!"

When I finally met up with them, they were a mess, clinging to each other and crying their eyes out. The area instantly became a sea of tears.

"Mr. Kiiim! Waah!"

"We passed! We really passed!"

"Hahaha! Calm down," I said, trying to soothe them. "I didn't do anything. You accomplished this yourselves. Be proud."

It took a long time to calm down a group of people older than me. After struggling to help the prostrated Na Daeyong to his feet, I looked up at all of them.

I swallowed hard. The way they looked at me went beyond mere respect; it was something akin to religious faith. It was a little unsettling. Was this really okay?

-You must endure it, Tower Master, Ea's voice echoed in my mind. -In Erendel, the Master of the Magic Tower was the pinnacle of power, a star to be worshipped. All people looked up to and revered the Tower Master.

'Haha, not this again.'

-The species known as humankind finds stability only when it belongs to something greater than itself. Whether it is a monarchy, a corporation, patriotism, or religion, humans are too weak to stand alone and require something to lean on. This is only the beginning.

'This isn't Erendel, Ea. Are you telling me to become a god?'

-No, she replied. -When someone tries to lean on you, Tower Master, simply become a person who does not betray that expectation.

…Expectation. I looked at the shining eyes of my team members and spoke. "Well then, shall we change locations?"

"To where?"

"I told you, didn't I? I'm taking you to the place I promised."

"Ah…!"

I grinned. "I'm going to show you the source of magic."

* * *

I led the Fourth Floor Team into the Sanggye restricted area.

"This is creepy."

Everyone looked around nervously. Throughout the overgrown forest, monsters watched us from the shadows, their eyes gleaming. The air was thick with tension, as if they might attack at any moment, yet they never made a move.

"Master!" Na Daeyong said, his large frame hunched over. "Why aren't they attacking? Ah! Did you do something again, Master?"

"Something like that," I said. "To be precise, it's not something I just did, but something I had already set up."

I gently took the hand of Seo Shimhee, who was trembling beside me, careful not to startle her. "Alright, everyone, line up and hold hands."

They did as they were told without question. I led them from the front. The deeper we went, the thicker the fog became, creating a mystical, otherworldly atmosphere.

"Don't let go, or you'll get lost," I warned.

I felt Shimhee squeeze my hand tightly. The others swallowed audibly. After walking through the mist for about five minutes, we finally emerged. A wide-open vista unfolded before us.

"…Oh."

"Woooow."

The colossal Magic Tower stood right before them.

"This is that eyesore of Seoul…"

"I've never seen it this close before."

Listening to their awed whispers, I stepped forward. "Alright, I will now perform the imprinting."

I had already explained the process. They each received the 'Crest of the Magic Tower' on their chosen body part. Things got a little awkward when Kim Sarang insisted on getting it just below her collarbone, but we managed without any major issues.

"Alright, and Mr. Daeyong?"

"For a man, it's gotta be the calf!" he declared.

When Daeyong rolled up his pant leg, a limb as hairy as a beast's was revealed. Grimacing, I engraved the crest on his leg. 'Next time,' I thought, 'I'm just telling them to pick an arm or a wrist. No more choices.'

"Let's go in." I demonstrated by placing my hand on the main gate. "Oh, right. You might get hurt, so enter one at a time, at ten-second intervals."

"Huh?"

"I'll go first and wait for you."

My body was pulled through the gate. My vision shifted, and the familiar first-floor lobby materialized around me.

"Oh, you're back!"

"Yusin!"

"Welcome, Tower Master."

The administrators, who were relaxing in the lobby, greeted me warmly.

"Yusin, where's the Fourth Floor Team? You said you were coming together," Bora asked.

"We did. They'll be here any second."

"Oh, they're coming in now? This is gonna be fun!"

As if an amusing show was about to start, they all crowded around the main gate.

"They're not coming," Seojin noted.

"Just wait a bit."

'Vwoom.'

The main gate began to glow.

"Aaaaah!"

First to appear was the mountain-sized Na Daeyong, flailing wildly before face-planting on the floor.

"Mommy!"

Next came the usually chic Cha Doyeon, desperately calling for her mother as she tumbled to the ground.

"Aaargh!"

"Kyaaaaaaah!"

One by one, they followed, each creating a new legendary moment of embarrassment as they piled up on the floor.

"Hahahaha!"

"Welcome to the Magic Tower!"

Everyone laughed, warmly welcoming the new family members. You get used to it, but everyone stumbles so ungracefully the first time they enter.

"Woooow…"

The eyes of the Fourth Floor Team were wide with astonishment. They stared at the glittering golden lobby, the magical equipment, the bubbling cauldrons, and the strange glass tubes.

"To think a place like this was inside the tower…"

"It feels like a dream."

I smiled and turned to Seojin. "I'm going to give the team a tour."

"Yes, Tower Master."

"Ea, you come too. You'll need to explain things."

"Affirmative."

Ea and I led the team through the tower, explaining each floor. The first floor: the Potion Brewing Bureau. The second: the Great Library. The third: the Golem Workshop. With every explanation from Ea, they looked around like children seeing the world for the first time. Their reactions were so priceless, it was a joy to show them around.

Finally, we reached the fourth floor: the Weather Design Bureau.

"This is where you'll be working from now on," I announced.

"Wow…!"

The biggest cheer yet erupted at the news. They quickly scattered, exploring their new workplace. Some were already claiming desks. Ea then explained the functions of the bureau and the principles of field magic.

"So you're giving this entire floor to us?" one of them asked, still in disbelief.

"Of course. You're all members of the Magic Tower now."

They all looked at me, their faces filled with emotion.

"The fourth floor is where field magic is created," I explained. "For now, it will be difficult to even touch the formulas, but I'll provide supplementary theory lessons so we can start with simple creations. We'll still run dungeons to keep your practical skills sharp, but your main work will be here. Starting tomorrow, you'll report to the tower by 10 AM and come up to this floor. And as I mentioned before, your salaries will be tripled."

"Wow…"

"T-tripled… how much is that?"

Joining a guild meant good money, but you were usually worked to the bone for the first five years. Here, their main job wasn't hunting but magic creation. They could raise their stats and research new magic right here in the tower, without having to fight monsters. And on top of that, they'd be earning several times the salary of a typical rank-5 hunter. Even I had to admit, the conditions were fantastic.

"While you enjoy all these benefits, your number one priority is security."

Everyone nodded, their faces serious.

"A colleague named Jeong Seojin will explain the other details. Seojin, Bora, and myself aren't much older than you, but we are floor administrators and your seniors. I expect you to treat them with respect."

"Yes!"

"Of course!"

This group was so good-natured that I wasn't worried about internal conflicts in the slightest.

"Alright, let's head back down."

"Yes!"

When we returned to the first floor, everyone's eyes went wide again. The lobby tables had been pushed together and were laden with party food. There was beer, wine, snacks like tteokbokki, and a mountain of Eunsol's favorite cookies.

"Come on, sit down!" Bora called out, waving. "This is a party to celebrate your joining the Magic Tower and everyone passing the exam!"

"Wooow!"

"We're so moved!"

They rushed to the table with bright smiles. As everyone found a seat, I was ushered into the seat of honor. Bora quickly filled my glass. "Well then, our Tower Master has to say a few words first!"

"Ahem. I suppose I should." I stood up and raised my glass. The Fourth Floor Team watched me, their eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Everyone has worked incredibly hard. I'm sure there were many times you wanted to die, right? If you felt that way, it's normal. I admit I pushed you hard."

"Booooo!" the team booed playfully.

"Still, I'm so grateful and happy that not a single person dropped out and you're all here together." Na Daeyong shouted, "Master, we're the ones who are grateful!" before Cha Doyeon smacked him on the back of the head for being tactless. "From now on, you'll only walk on a path of flowers… ah, wait, that's not right. From now on, things will be several times harder."

Everyone laughed, thinking it was a joke, but Bora and Seojin, who knew better, shared meaningful smiles.

"At the very least, I believe you've all escaped from pessimism, inferiority complexes, and self-loathing. Who could have imagined two months ago that you would become who you are today? Be proud. Lift your heads, puff out your chests, and face the world. No one will ever dare call you a non-combat class again. I am proud of you all."

I raised my glass high. "Let's toast. To the new members of the Magic Tower!"

"Cheers!"

Glasses clinked together. Boisterous laughter filled the hall as everyone forgot their fatigue and reveled in the moment.

'Ding.'

As I was drinking, a message notification chimed. Na Daeyong, sitting next to me, glanced at my phone. "Hm? Who is it?"

"The Association President."

"Whaaaaaaaat?"

The lobby suddenly fell silent. I stood up. "I'm going to take this call upstairs. You all keep having fun."

"Woooah! A personal call with the Hunter Association President! Master, just who in the world—!"

"Daeyong!"

I quickly took the magic circle elevator to the ninth floor and answered the call.

"Yo, Yusin?"

"Yes, this is Kim Yusin. What's going on so late at night?"

"There's a favor I want to ask."

A favor from the Association President? She'd given me plenty of help, but she'd never asked for anything in return.

"It's about Yeon."

She continued, her tone serious.

"You interested in a business trip?"

* * *

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