The first floor of the Tower of Knowledge was quite spacious.
The vastness of the space, which wouldn't even be noticed by a few football fields, felt empty, giving a sense of unnecessary bleakness.
In the center of this first floor, there was a chair and table where Lady Ariel would normally sit.
Now, another chair had been added.
Sitting in that chair, I, the master of the Tower of Knowledge... sat facing Lady Ariel, receiving her teachings.
My outfit was different, too.
The student uniform I had been wearing was packed away into a spatial pocket, and I now wore the white cloth robes that Lady Ariel had provided.
When I checked, I realized that the outfit was similar to the one Lady Ariel herself was wearing.
The length of the robes was long, and when I extended the sleeves, they covered my wrists.
The entire garment was quite baggy, and every time I moved roughly, it fluttered.
Some might consider this uncomfortable, but it fit my taste perfectly, and I was content wearing it.
Sitting like that across from Lady Ariel, we both looked as though we were covered in white flour.
"Is there something unclear?"
Lady Ariel asked after finishing her explanation.
[...Hmm, I don't quite understand the spell conversion part.]
[Is there really a need to connect it to pure magic? The output seems too low.]
There’s a saying.
Learning something new and teaching someone else are two completely different things.
The former is about making yourself understand, while the latter is about making someone else understand.
It depends on the case, but learning something well doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be good at teaching it.
Especially for me, if something that I understood easily and skipped over wasn’t understood by someone else, that’s where things tend to get tripped up.
Lady Ariel Segnis Ternovcia, the true founder of the Mage's Council.
She had been a legendary hero, known as the first mage, whose fame spread even before her time.
Although her fame had long since faded into obscurity after her seclusion, she was still a legendary figure among mages, often mentioned in history books.
Even though she was a great mage, teaching was a separate matter...
"This was something I also struggled with in the past. Though it was for stability, I had to make numerous compromises, which I was unsatisfied with. Initially, I added side techniques to approach it..."
...It wasn’t just a job.
Her magical abilities seemed to be matched by her exceptional teaching skills, which were far more proficient than I had imagined.
She gently touched the part I was questioning, and then explained with a calm voice, mentioning that she had gone through the same doubts in the past.
From the introduction to the most detailed points, everything stuck in my mind.
The explanation was clear and perfect, even down to the basic questions and the reasoning behind the principles.
It almost felt like she could read my thoughts, or was she just that good at explaining?
"In those times, there was no such thing as magic. The knowledge accumulated by our ancestors was limited, and there were few people to share that knowledge with. So, from beginning to end, I had to create it myself."
At my question, Lady Ariel answered nonchalantly.
"There were countless trials in that process... I personally went through many experiments to resolve almost any question."
Ah...
There was a difference between the innate abilities that emerged naturally and the magic that was structured based on certain rules and logic.
Unlike those abilities, magic was a technology that had to be arranged and activated by specific methods.
Naturally, there was no such thing as magic at the time, given the lack of information.
"The first magic was not creation but imitation."
Lady Ariel raised her palm toward the sky.
The fire that arises in nature.
The rain and lightning falling from the sky.
The wind that cuts through cliffs.
The earth that shakes and erupts...
The magical orbs of different attributes floated above her palm, like planets drifting in the universe.
"Nature magic... now called elemental magic, and magic focusing on manipulating mana, such as mana strikes, bullets, and formation magic, were the only types of magic back then, focusing on the essence of mana itself."
Along with the colorful orbs of various elements, there were also several orbs of mana.
They looked similar in form, but their properties felt completely different.
Some orbs were heavy, while others scattered sharp sparkles.
"Back then, I, too, craved simple and powerful magic, something intuitive and strong that could easily defeat monsters... much like what we see now with Iha-yul."
Lady Ariel broke the floating orbs apart with her hand and playfully tapped her chest with her finger.
[Ah]
"Mana strikes and mana bullets. Among the most basic manipulation techniques, these are the easiest to grasp and most powerful. I used them frequently. It was effective even if I scattered thousands of them, and since the basic technique was simple, it was easy to improve."
[Yes, that's right.]
[The output is good compared to the mana efficiency, and the spells are simple enough to be fired in rapid succession.]
[Improvement is definitely easier... ]
"However."
Suddenly, Lady Ariel's tone became firm.
The necklace that had been clinking with excitement froze abruptly.
After a brief pause, Lady Ariel stared at me intently.
"...I have never actually used the extreme and dangerous improvements like Iha-yul. After several experiments, I concluded that even a single mistake could ruin the user, making it an unworkable technique."
[...Yes.]
"Yes, of course, the risks vary depending on the user's capabilities. Iha-yul's talent is incomparable to mine, so such dangerous magic might be manageable for him."
Lady Ariel paused and fell silent for a moment.
"...But the magic you've been practicing lately... no, the magical technique—if you can even call it that—is violent and bizarre, and I simply cannot understand it."
Violent and bizarre...
Although it was an abstract description, I knew exactly what she meant.
The technique modeled after the fifth experiment.
The implementation of the magical circuit through spells.
"...Twisting circuits at random is already insane... How can you use that in a spell? If the bones and flesh explode and fly off, you might get lucky. But the reverse flow of mana could permanently damage your circuits and core, it's a dangerous move."
[That... ]
"In the fifth observation record, Iha-yul’s body... used artifacts to carefully adjust his body's circuits in advance, which allowed it to barely, just barely, activate. But even that failed, leading to a self-destructive result."
[Yeah...]
"Just barely, just barely."
Lady Ariel’s tone became softer, especially emphasizing the words with a special accent. I lowered my head, feeling the weight of her reprimand.
I had heard this criticism since the first day, but today it was much stronger.
And the reason was me.
I subtly adjusted my right arm, which had barely healed after exploding yesterday.
Lady Ariel's gaze pierced through the top of my head.
It felt like she was looking at a mischievous child, and I lowered my head even further.
"...You may find my comments unpleasant. You might take it as an unworthy criticism, but I have no right to argue."
[No, I don't think that.]
I shook my head.
Though my thoughts about the tower masters were still complex, I didn’t think their worries were baseless.
I had been in the Tower of Knowledge for about ten days, and during that time, I had learned a lot from Lady Ariel, things I had missed on the first day.
It was a short period in my life, but in that time, I couldn’t find any signs of malicious intent from her.
...I hope the other tower masters are the same.
"Yes, thank you for accepting my concerns."
Suddenly, Lady Ariel gently placed her hand on my cheek and lifted my lowered head.
"By the way, did you sleep last night?"
Lady Ariel suddenly asked, her slender fingers brushing over my eyelids like she was handling a delicate craft.
I tilted my head.
[No.]
"Did you sleep at all since you entered the tower?"
[No, not really...?]
I replied in a small voice, not thinking much of it.
Lady Ariel's gaze changed again, now looking at me like a child who had done something wrong. I rolled my eyes, with her hands still holding my cheeks.
...
The tower’s interior operates under its own set of rules, different from the outside world.
A notable concept is space.
The tower is a massive structure that defies conventional measurements from the outside. But once inside, the space is so vast that it can’t even be categorized as a "building" in the usual sense.
The Tower of Knowledge is no different.
‘It’s been ten days... Time feels fast and slow at the same time.’
I had been wandering around the Tower of Knowledge for the past ten days.
I observed everything with my own eyes and also explored by walking to get a better feel.
Through this, I realized that the Tower of Knowledge spreads in a completely different way compared to the Tower of Growth.
The Tower of Growth is divided by various stairs and walls.
There are vast spaces like jungles from the dinosaur era, where monsters naturally thrive, and smaller spaces resembling desolate wastelands where I had fought in the second round.
Each space is divided, so when observing through space and observation powers, I see them as ‘individual spaces.’
The Tower of Knowledge isn’t like that.
There’s no division at all—it’s just one huge space.
The first floor is completely empty.
Apart from the central table and chairs where Lady Ariel usually reads, there’s nothing else.
The only things present are the long corridors that open to all sides of the first floor.
Each corridor has identical doors on both sides.
There are two types of rooms.
One is for residential use, and the other is a storage room.
There are no libraries or reading rooms here.
Because the library and reading rooms are all on the floors above the second.
The first floor is completely empty. There’s no ceiling, and from the second floor up, the entire space is filled with bookshelves and books.
‘Hmm...’
The Tower of Growth amplifies the blessing of growth inside.
Whether that’s its original function or something added by the Tower Master, I’m not sure.
But it’s similar to how dungeons add vitality to allies and suppress enemies.
The Tower of Knowledge has no such blessing.
Instead, it’s filled with an unimaginable number of books.
With a strange expression, I placed the book in my hand back into its spot and tapped its cover lightly with my finger.
Normally... almost everyone reads books with their eyes.
Those with visual impairments might read in Braille, or listen to audio versions of the content.
I, however, used my powers of observation to perceive the entire book at once.
It was far faster and more efficient than reading it with my eyes, using Braille, or listening to audio.
Of course, perceiving something is different from understanding it.
So instead of trying to understand it right away, I just shove the entire content into my brain and later recall it slowly to process it.
The books in the Tower of Knowledge are hard to perceive like that.
I pulled out the book next to me with a strange expression.
『Advanced Elemental Magic - Fire Magic』
The cover was ordinary.
Rather than being old-fashioned, it had a modern look, and there were no traces of use or age on it.
It felt like a new book that had just been printed.
The texture was fine, too. I ran my fingers over its smooth surface and opened the book with a familiar sound. The pages inside were just as expected—normal.
But there was something different.
When I adjusted my powers of observation carefully, I could feel a slight difference in the structure compared to an ordinary book.
‘Is all of this due to the power?’
This book was created through the power of knowledge.
If I had to describe it, it’s a mass of information and mana.
Not just this book, but every book around me, lying scattered everywhere, is created through the power of knowledge.
‘And it’s still increasing...’
When I first entered the Tower of Knowledge, I thought all the books in the world were here.
That thought wasn’t entirely wrong.
Books in the Tower of Knowledge continue to grow.
Whether that’s due to the powers of the tower or the fact that many newly published books from the outside world are added here, I’m not sure.
‘Like this...’
I placed my palm on the roughly opened pages, gently raising my mana and feeding it into the paper.
Soon, an odd sensation that felt like it was rummaging through my brain made me squint slightly.
Strange memories and landscapes that weren’t mine rose in my mind.
Usually, most people would freak out at this unfamiliar and strange feeling.
But for me, who had gone through many experiences with observation and information absorption, this was nothing. I could let it pass as easily as breathing.
‘Hmm...’
After a while, the flood of information stopped.
I tapped the book lightly with a strange expression.
The information injection.
I still don’t fully understand the exact method, but the speed of information transfer is overwhelmingly superior to just skimming through with my eyes.
‘It’s difficult...’
But it’s hard.
I scratched my head and frowned.
It's not that I’m stupid, but magic is difficult.
Magic is a science.
Although its history may be short compared to other fields, the depth and accumulated knowledge are by no means shallow.
The study of magic, built on blood, flesh, and sacrifice, is not a half-baked discipline.
In fact, when you consider its difficulty, it’s groundbreaking and incredibly challenging.
The higher the level of magic, the harder it becomes, and as you dig deeper, you’ll encounter more and more things that are hard to understand.
‘Tsk...’
Of course, with my affinity for mana and my versatility, I can eventually get through it if I persist.
It may sound like arrogance, but despite my intelligence, I was actually quite exceptional in these kinds of talents.
But even with such remarkable abilities, understanding and mastering such vast amounts of knowledge requires time.
The knowledge-based books in the Tower of Knowledge significantly reduce the time needed, but I still have to put in effort.
After hearing about the situation in the Tower of Knowledge, the pressure I felt before had significantly eased.
Although I pretended otherwise, I had been almost crushed by the pressure.
But now that I realized the tower masters were doing their best to help me, that pressure had mostly faded.
‘I need to try harder.’
So, I steeled my will to prevent myself from becoming complacent.
When the worst situation comes, it’s too late to try.
I need to start now.
While there’s still room to breathe.
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After all, the Tower of Knowledge has a limited entrance period.
I won’t allow myself to waste time here.
Sleep is something I do outside the Tower of Knowledge.
A month? Two months? I don’t need it.
I’ve already realized my body is different, and I’ve come to understand that sleep is not a necessity. As long as my consciousness holds out, I can stay awake forever.
In the Shiyoram, I used to fall asleep whenever someone hugged me, but here, there’s no one to do that.
‘...I miss Yeonhwa.’
Just as I was about to search for another book, a bright red cover suddenly flashed in my mind.
It reminded me of someone, and I bit my lips.
‘...I miss Seo-yul too. I miss my master... Elia... I miss them all.’
It’s only been ten days.
Only ten days, a time I can count on my fingers.
Yet, for some reason, the intense longing that rose from the depths of my heart felt heavy.
I had been apart from them for much longer before, so this feeling was strange.
I bit my lips and opened the book.
"When are you going to sleep...?"
Lady Ariel, the Tower Master, couldn’t see Iha-yul’s actions in a positive light.
It had been nearly ten days since Iha-yul entered the tower.
To Lady Ariel, Iha-yul’s state felt very strange.
Although her body was bound by the constraints of being a Tower Master, she had been a pioneer hero even before that.
Even after becoming the Tower Master, she never neglected her training.
Lady Ariel Segnis Ternovcia, not just the "Tower Master of Knowledge," but as herself, her skill and dignity were high.
She had many impressions of Iha-yul when she first saw him.
A pure being.
A chunk of potential that could explode into nature at any time.
A being cursed by the world.
An imbalance between spirit and flesh.
Even now, a powerful force, yet still seething with untapped potential.
And...
A child who was full of anxiety, yet desperately hoping for kindness.
But now, the atmosphere had changed.
Sometimes, Iha-yul seemed fine, but then suddenly became gloomy.
At times, he’d sit still, only for dark, stormy energy to surround him.
He would frown, letting out a deep sigh as if longing for something.
At times, his thoughts would become dark, and he would release a murderous aura.
From any angle, he seemed mentally unstable, pushing himself beyond his limits.
Lady Ariel had been observing Iha-yul closely, knowing everything he’d been doing since he entered the tower.
The way he had stubbornly acted for ten days—she knew it all.
‘...’
Lady Ariel suddenly looked down.
She then quickly skimmed through Iha-yul’s status window, which had been unlocked after his entry to the tower.
[Player Modification System: Measurements]
▶ Mental State
"Loneliness"
"Solitude"
"Restlessness"
"Anguish"
"Doubt"
"Desperation"
"Desire"
"Longing"
"Separation Anxiety"
"Need for Sleep"
"Curse of Loneliness?"
‘This...’
Lady Ariel squinted at the last line of the mental state.
The "Curse of Loneliness."
It was one of the two curses placed on Iha-yul by them.
Normally, it would only limit his senses, but after hearing the full story, the curse was now shaking Iha-yul’s already fragile mind.
‘Tsk...’
Potential is an unexpressed power.
The more desperate a living being is, the more it brings out its potential, performing beyond its usual capabilities.
Iha-yul was no different.
He was desperate, and in his most extreme moments, his unprecedented potential would explode, blooming rapidly.
‘But...’
Iha-yul needs a different kind of desperation than this.
He needs to live as a human, not a monster.
He needs to find happiness, not loneliness.
He shouldn’t accept pain as normal.
He shouldn’t suppress his emotions under the excuse of his circumstances.
That’s not only Lady Ariel and the Tower Masters' hope but also what’s necessary for efficiency and practicality.
He’s meant to be a savior and protector, not a avenger or killer.
...If anyone asks if they have the right to say this, Lady Ariel would admit she has no qualifications...
But, whether late or early, it’s his destiny to be thrown into battle.
In the end, it’s those who put him in this position.
‘As expected, I should make him sleep.’
This was still not good.
Lady Ariel nodded firmly, determined.
Then, as if embarrassed, she gently blushed.
After thinking for a moment, Lady Ariel gently moved her hands and let out a deep sigh.
Her attire, designed to open easily, parted effortlessly with a light gesture.