Chapter 53: Overcoming in an Instant

1

The 28th floor of the Ziggurat.

The four climbed the tower as usual.

They gathered mana crystals and artifacts to raise funds.

“Oh Kael.”

“Yes?”

“Alano said the money from selling the artifacts will arrive next week.”

Melanie said.

It was welcome news amidst everything else.

There was a limit to completing small errands.

Even with a full scholarship, humans in society need money just to breathe.

Studying and gaining experience all required money.

Kwang-!

The four, now working together quite smoothly, advanced relentlessly to the 35th floor.

“Let’s wait here.”

“Okay.”

“This time, let’s do well without making mistakes. We won’t fall for the same trick twice, right? I’ve prepared some really great magic for this day!”

There was a rest area in front of where the Guardian was stationed.

Luckily, it was an infirmary today.

They rested their tired bodies and absorbed mana stones while waiting for Manus.

As they were quietly building up their resolve, the door opened.

About 30 minutes after they had come up?

Manus, who had climbed alone at a terrifying speed, stood proudly before the four.

“You came up really fast?”

“Thanks to you all, I didn’t encounter many demons. Let’s go.”

The four stood up.

Though memories of before surfaced, making their hearts flutter nervously, Manus’ presence firmly blocked that fear.

[Pope — 2]

[Throne of Chaos]

A strange being sitting on a chair.

Though just sitting there, magic below 2nd class had no effect and it had no weaknesses.

Moreover, it used its exclusive skill [Cloud of Oblivion], making it a quite infamous boss.

[Hmm-.]

The boss noticed them.

Pearson, as always, cast buff spells all around.

Advanced magic.

It increased attack power, defense, and improved eyesight.

It even raised evasion by improving reflexes.

Battle preparations were complete.

Manus took a step back.

“Do as you wish.”

“Okay.”

He needed to observe for now.

It was time to check how much his juniors had grown and what they still lacked.

Interference was likely being applied to someone even now.

He hoped some interferences would end after this battle.

‘When interferences end, I can receive rewards too.’

He expected that the more an interference could change a character’s fundamental nature, the greater the reward would be.

His expectations were high.

Kwuung-!

Finally, the battle began.

“Here it comes-!”

The first attack was a wide-area wind magic.

Melanie and Kael stepped forward and beautifully negated it.

Melanie with mint-colored hair, enchanted with a wind spirit.

Kael clashing with [Anima], 2nd class wind attribute magic.

Next, red flames rushed forward.

Anais, safely casting from behind, demonstrated her superior damage dealing ability.

[Ignira]

[Altus]

Magic that was powerful in proportion to its long casting time.

The scorching heat brushed Manus’ face red as it passed.

It was proof that Anais hadn’t neglected her training either.

[Hmm!]

The second pattern appeared.

A door opened and knights protecting the throne appeared.

[Chariot : 8]

They were strong against physical attacks but weak to elemental magic.

“Melanie, block again!”

“Leave it to me.”

A confident appearance unlike usual, as if she were a different person.

Her mint-colored hair changed to blonde.

Grrrr-!

The ground around her rippled, imbued with mana.

[Enchant : Gnome]

The sturdy and strong-willed spirit firmly enveloped Melanie.

Kwang-!

Huge spears and shields.

Demons resembling ancient knights’ battle styles charged at Melanie.

Demons aiming at Melanie with raised spears and bodies protected by shields.

At a glance, it was a force that most magicians couldn’t withstand.

Manus watched the battle with interested eyes, wondering how she would respond.

‘They’re much stronger than I expected.’

Specs that seemed to be around level 20.

The mana they emitted was sufficient, and their skills were more powerful than expected.

The collision was intense, but Melanie gritted her teeth and endured.

“I gave you all the buffs!”

“Thanks!”

Melanie caught the spear tip with her strengthened hands.

Vivid action unfolded here that couldn’t be seen in the game.

Kwang-!

Kael used [Atabulus] to burn the knights.

Anais seemed to have taken on the role of continuously attacking the boss’ main body.

It was an ideal positioning.

[Hmmmm-!]

The Guardian raged.

It was a sign that its health had dropped below a certain threshold.

To reduce its health this much in such a short time.

As expected, they had been growing steadily even without him.

He felt proud for no particular reason.

The enraged throne alternated between four attributes, unleashing 2nd class magic.

Kael and Melanie faithfully performed their tanking roles, successfully overcoming this pattern as well.

“Phew-. Still better than last time.”

“Let’s keep it up, guys!”

Now it’s coming.

The eyes of the mask on the throne glowed.

It stood up from its seat and stretched out its hand.

Mana intertwined in various ways, spewing out murky clouds.

Clouds that were closer to fog spread out everywhere.

Everyone tensed up nervously.

Perhaps because the nightmare from before was revived, even Kael, the protagonist character with all abilities maxed out, froze up unable to do anything.

“Get a hold of yourselves.”

“Ugh, uwaaaaah-!”

Pearson’s eyes turned red.

No mana could be felt from Anais, and Kael’s eyes trembled.

The tears welling up in her eyes even looked pitiful.

“Melanie.”

“Y-yes!”

Melanie’s eyes turned red, but soon returned to normal.

It seems the spirits intervened and helped her right away.

Thanks to the overpowered passive [Caeser’s Mindset], Manus endured the mental attack without issue.

Though the tooltip overlapped, the Mindset skill was far superior.

Manus looked at the first-year juniors trying desperately to suppress the emotions tormenting them.

It wasn’t as serious as he had thought.

Perhaps because they had experienced it once before, they seemed to be controlling it fairly well.

‘As expected, reality is different.’

He should be grateful that he wasn’t affected by such skills.

In the game, it was a status effect that lasted for several turns.

Since it wasn’t simple data composed of HP/MP, the struggle was intense.

“You pass, more or less.”

Manus smiled faintly as he watched them trying to win somehow.

He easily dodged Pearson charging at him with red eyes, and wove a spell formula.

Kwung-!

Meanwhile, the throne launched an attack.

“Don’t run wild.”

A bright magic circle appeared in his right hand, and a blue one in his left.

Kwajijik-!

Manus effortlessly demonstrated 3rd class magic with double casting.

[Fulgetra]

[Hmm-!]

The tower flashed brightly, and the boss staggered for a moment, groaning.

At the same time, magic to free them from mental suffering was completed.

[Flamma]

A bright light drove away the fog.

Magic once used by dragons, the progenitors of magic in ancient times.

Magic that no one could block unfolded.

“Huh?”

“I feel…”

After the bright light swept through, Kael, Anais, and Pearson gradually returned to their senses.

The moment they had desperately endured faded away, and their minds became clear.

Everyone looked at Manus.

He spoke as if he had simply picked up trash lying on the street:

“You just need to learn magic that clears the mind. I’ll teach you when we get back.”

“It, it wasn’t a big deal after all?!”

Pearson shouted in a trembling voice.

Right, it wasn’t such a big deal.

After overcoming it, it becomes just that — not a big deal.

Manus smirked.

“If you understand, finish it quickly.”

“Alright-! Let’s show them what we’ve got!”

At Pearson’s spirited shout, everyone unleashed their attacks again.

Kael and Melanie showed fantastic teamwork, blocking all attacks.

Anais also unleashed passionate fire magic as if venting all her pent-up frustrations.

“Die-!”

Anais’ 3rd class magic, using all her might, struck home and-

[Hmmmm-!]

Finally, the boss turned to ashes amidst the barrage of magic.

It was quite an intense battle, and the content was excellent too.

Manus lightly clapped his hands to congratulate their victory.

The battle was over.

Everyone’s cheers filled the space.

Life stirred in the cold, dark tower.

[Battle End]

[You have defeated the Guardian.]

[Kael, Anais, Melanie, and Pearson’s levels have increased.]

[Kael : 25]
[Anais : 22]
[Melanie : 21]
[Pearson : 20]

2

After the battle with the Guardian.

Riding this momentum, the group climbed higher, but eventually hit a dead end.

Manus confirmed that the second area had not yet opened.

“This seems to be as far as we can go.”

“Looks like it.”

“I wonder who created the tower…”

Manus didn’t know the truth about the tower either.

So he shook his head.

The game setting said it was created by Mors, the god of death, but no one really knew the truth.

It was a task he had to uncover himself.

It was time to head back.

Moreover, it was time to introduce Kael to Black and White.

To properly raise her as a leader, she needed to be able to perfectly fulfill her role.

“Kael.”

“Yes?”

The two looked at Manus with wide eyes.

Kael’s talent is on a completely different level from ordinary characters.

She might even surpass Caeser.

So Black and White will surely pass on magic to her without holding back.

They like talented individuals after all.

The mana crystals were readily handed over to Manus.

“Now you need to take on this role.”

“But I… don’t know that magic.”

“There are people who will teach you.”

Kael’s eyes shone.

New magic.

New knowledge.

Since climbing the tower, she had gradually begun to crave power.

She nodded her head resolutely.

They arrived at the lobby, and Pearson and Melanie returned to the dorm first.

Anais was fidgeting nervously, and seeing this, Kael tugged on Manus’ sleeve.

“Um, I think Anais has something to say.”

“Speak.”

“Uh— well, that…”

Manus quietly looked at her and waited.

Anais stumbled over her words, her face turning red.

She kept her eyes closed, sorting through what to say in her mind.

Manus quietly waited for her to calm down.

Anais took a deep breath, then gazed into those blue eyes.

“Senior, you think of us as comrades, right?”

“Of course. You’re doing things I can’t do.”

“You don’t think we’re… useless or anything-“

Manus closed his eyes and cut off her words.

Had anxiety already started sprouting?

He looked at his hands.

Wondering if the warmth in these hands could melt away her anxiety.

“Don’t worry.”

“…”

“You will stand by my side. It won’t be long.”

You are the children who will save the world.

You’ll need to become even stronger, and overcome many more hurdles.

There will be many times when your emotions become more intense than now.

Each time, you’ll need a solid mental pillar to stand on and climb over.

This was Manus’ conclusion, having glimpsed these kids’ inner thoughts through the game.

He carefully extended a warm hand.

“I believe in you all, that’s why I can move alone.”

“Then-“

“You’ll become even more excellent. Don’t doubt yourselves and keep moving forward.”

At Manus’ firm words, the anxiety lingering in Anais’ eyes faded.

She smiled brightly.

[Interference confirmed.]

[Reward will be given.]

In turn, Manus was able to smile as well.

–TL Notes–
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