-Tower Master! Are you injured?

"…I'm fine."

I said I was fine, but I really wasn't.

-So you have learned dark magic after all.

"…What is that?"

-It is an ancient magic that remains only in literature. It is said to have been used by the demon races of the dark age, before the rise of human empires. Since it is not a power created by humans, it is known to carry great risks and side effects.

I scratched my head. Why the hell was such dangerous magic embedded in a golem's belly?

"I don't really get it, but the power is incredible."

On the wall where the golem had been slammed, a sprawling skull shape, identical to the magic circle, was etched like a scar. How could a spell leave a mark like that? I couldn't begin to understand its principles.

-Still, I am truly relieved that you are safe. What do you plan to do now?

"Hmm, let's see."

I looked around. This time, there were three transportation magic circles, like a fork in the road. Beyond the wall that had collapsed with the black golem, I saw a black magic circle. As I approached, a player message popped up, informing me it would transport me to the boss room.

'This one goes to the boss room.'

Behind me, two other types of magic circles had appeared. The green one was a familiar portal back to the Magic Tower. The other was a form I had never seen before: a blue light with complex formulas scrawled all over it. A single glance told me it was a highly complex magic circle, probably at least a seventh-order. I walked up to it.

[Save Point.]

[Saves current progress and exits the Magic Tower. When re-challenging the trial, you will return to the current stage.]

[Additional rule for this trial: Magic of third-order or higher learned outside the trial after saving will be sealed.]

'A save point! Right. It's about time one of these showed up.'

Honestly, I felt like I had been saved. This black golem trial had been exceptionally difficult. There was no way to retreat; I was just thrown into the jaws of death. It wouldn't have been strange if I had died.

'…If they expect me to challenge the boss in this state, that's basically a death sentence.'

-Recommendation. Your physical condition is not good, Tower Master. I suggest resting at the Magic Tower before attempting the trial again.

"You're probably right."

Objectively speaking, challenging the boss right now, with my current fatigue, was impossible. It seemed better to save my progress and tackle the boss battle separately rather than exiting the trial completely.

I stood before the blue magic circle and looked at the black circle leading to the boss battle. 'I'll be back for you soon.'

[Saving player data.]

[Setting a save point at this location.]

[Transporting outside the trial.]

My body was enveloped in a dazzling light.

* * *

After temporarily saving my progress in the grueling third-floor trial, I returned to reality. It left a deep impression. Whether I was resting or eating, all I could think about was the trial. When I lay down to sleep, scenes from it flickered in my mind: me, flying through the sky with Leap Boots; the endlessly rising golems; and the overwhelming power of my new technique, Devastar. It all felt like a dream. The only thing proving the experience was real were my significantly increased stats.

I had planned to tackle the boss battle as soon as my body recovered, but an unexpected problem arose. After leaving the trial, I was never able to reproduce Devastar again. The construction difficulty was high due to the peculiar nature of dark magic, but the bigger problem was immersion. In the trial, where my life was on the line every second, I could fully immerse myself in mana. But back in the real world, my mana sensitivity, adaptability, and concentration had all dropped.

The conclusion was simple: I was still stuck.

"Yusin! You're going to burn yourself out. Please, take a break."

As I sat on the sofa, fiddling with a floating Devastar circle, Bora finally spoke up with a worried expression.

"I agree. The Tower Master needs more rest," Ea added.

Unable to withstand their gazes, I dispersed the Devastar magic circle into the air.

'Ugh, I just can't get a feel for it.'

If it were up to me, I would've just charged into the boss battle, with Devastar or not, but all the Magic Tower members were vehemently against it. They insisted that if I went in my current state, something truly terrible might happen.

"Yusin," Bora said cautiously, watching my reaction. "Don't you think we're fine with just the second floor for now? Potions and information should be enough…"

"What are you talking about? There are six more floors of technology on par with potions and information, and you want me to just leave them be?"

I would absolutely unlock them all. The trials had now become a matter of pride.

Bora, who was tapping away at her laptop, suddenly clapped her hands.

"Oh, Yusin!"

"What?"

"I think you should go to the academy tomorrow. We have a long-term dungeon dispatch scheduled starting the day after, but there's nothing on tomorrow's schedule…"

"Really?"

At that, Ea's face lit up as she looked at me.

"Going outside for a breather doesn't sound bad, Tower Master."

Well, since I was stuck, that did sound like a good idea.

"I guess I'll go. It's been a while."

* * *

"Did you finish the assignment?"

"I seriously hate performance evaluations."

"No way! Do you know what the assistant professor said yesterday?"

A group of female students passed by, giggling. A faint smile touched my lips as I watched the cheerful freshmen.

There's a certain whimsy to campus life. To be honest, I had lived such a desperate life that I was far removed from such things, but now, with the early graduation exam approaching, I was finally feeling something similar. It was a sentiment you could only feel at the academy.

-In that case, you must find a college sweetheart, Tower Master, Ea said suddenly.

'What are you talking about?'

-I have heard that finding a romantic partner on a college campus is called a college sweetheart. As this is the last school experience of your life, I recommend you enjoy your youth to the fullest.

'That's not youth, that's the root of all evil.'

The knowledge Ea gained from the internet was often superficial.

"By the way, what class do I have today?"

I opened the academy app for the first time in a while and checked my schedule.

'Basic Practical Physical Education.'

I didn't have very good memories of this class. The main objective was to break various records through physical training, but the problem was that those records were made public to all students. For combat-type ability users, it was a competitive arena where they could show off their skills. For non-combat types like me, it was a time to be ridiculed for our pitiful scores.

Ah, but of course…

'I'm really looking forward to it.'

I was on the side of enjoying it now. Let's see if those guys who used to snicker behind my back could still do so today.

Since it was a P.E. class, I changed into a tracksuit in the locker room and headed to the open area behind the central gymnasium. Students in tracksuits were already gathered in droves. It was more of a general education course than a strict second-year class, so first and third years were often mixed in.

"Oh, it's Yusin!"

"You're back at school! How was the dungeon?"

Guys who usually wouldn't even say a word to me came up to say hello. Their intentions were transparent. I gave them half-hearted replies and passed by.

"That kid is…"

I could hear murmurs from all over. It was the usual story—something about a club president, something about Snow.

"Huh? Yusin?"

This time, it was a familiar voice. I turned around to see Yoonjeong in a tracksuit approaching me. It had been a while since I'd seen her with her hair tied back.

"…What are you doing at school?" she asked, looking a little flustered.

I smirked. "Why? Am I not allowed?"

"N-no. It's just that you've been on dungeon dispatches ever since you became a club president."

"I had some free time in my schedule."

"R-really?"

"Hey." I stood up and nudged her on the side. She flinched back in surprise. "Why are you acting so weird? Am I making you uncomfortable?"

"U-uncomfortable?! What did you say, idiot!"

'Thwack!'

She immediately punched me in the side. Yeah, this was the Yoonjeong I knew. The only difference was that it didn't hurt much. In the past, it really stung, and I would make a huge fuss. Still, I tried to react like I used to.

"You haven't been eating lunch alone because I'm not here, have you?"

"Bullshit! I have plenty of friends, you know!"

Chatting with Yoonjeong like this really made it feel like I was back at school. It was nice to see her after so long.

-Hmm, excellent, Tower Master. So this is the dynamic of a college couple.

'You're wrong.'

"Alright, alright, everyone! Let's begin the class!"

The instructor for the practical gym class was Professor Yunji Kim. One of her arms was a prosthetic. She used to be a certified Rank-3 hunter, but she retired after an injury and now dedicates herself to training the next generation.

"What do you think today's measurement event isss? How exciting!"

One of her quirks was her overly cutesy demeanor.

"Today's focus is the 'Swing'!"

Her words were met with mixed reactions. Students whose abilities favored them cheered, while the others booed in disappointment. Yoonjeong snickered.

"Look at them. No matter what the focus is, we're always last…" She stopped talking and looked at me. "Ah, but not anymore, right?"

"I don't know. I haven't measured myself since my unique ability changed."

The Swing was a simple event. You just had to throw a ball-shaped measuring device as far as you could. It was overwhelmingly advantageous for physical or emission-type ability users, similar to punching or dumbbell events.

"Okay, okay, focus please! I'll teach you the basic movements." Professor Kim projected a hologram screen in the air and began her explanation. "First is the step. Shall we learn the most standard 4-step?"

"Yes!" the students replied.

Being gathered here with kids my age, listening to a lesson, felt strangely nostalgic. It was like I was back to being a normal academy student again, and the events of the trial felt like a distant dream. My anxious heart felt much more at ease.

'I'm glad I came.'

After finishing her explanation and taking questions, Professor Kim spoke. "Great! Shall we have you come up one by one to be measured?" She held up a file and called out a name. "Second-year student, Mihyo Lee."

"Yes."

A female student with a neat bob cut walked to the starting line. She got into a somewhat awkward stance, sticking her butt out and lifting the ball. It looked more like she was trying to toss it to the person behind her than throw it. Just then—

'KOOM!'

A rock wall shot up from the ground, launching the ball high into the sky.

"Ooooh!"

Gasps of admiration erupted from the crowd. Professor Kim checked a device that looked like a speed gun, an instrument that could measure not only speed but also complex factors like impact force and throwing distance.

"Total record is 5,142 PHH," she announced.

Another round of admiration followed. She had used her unique ability to achieve an above-average record.

'Not bad.'

Both Yoonjeong and I applauded. But Ea seemed confused.

-That's a lower-tier version of Earth Claymore, yet it receives such cheers. I find it hard to comprehend.

She had a surprising amount of pride in magic.

-Well then, I shall look forward to the Tower Master's turn.

I just smiled silently.

* * *

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.