All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 155

◈ Chapter 155

78. World of Nightmares – 1

“Ugh…”

The mages groaned deeply.

They had only heard about dimensional magic, but instead of joy, they felt unease and doubt.

“‘While gazing into the abyss, the abyss gazes back at you.’ Since you said it, it can’t be meaningless.”

“If you peek into another dimension, they can peek back.”

“Is that a problem?”

It is a problem.

Observing each other could lead to war.

Or they might become wary and cross over here as they please.

“But the Magic Tower must already be researching it, right?”

“Isn’t there no progress anyway?”

And Ian had already confirmed the Magic Tower’s research through Kirke.

Their research was completely misguided, so no matter how hard they researched, they couldn’t see another dimension.

Of course, they could obtain an artifact like this pendant and start new research.

Ian wasn’t too concerned about the Magic Tower because he planned to cut them off immediately if that happened.

“I don’t understand. Why research that instead of their own stuff? There’s so much to research in the world.”

“Because it’s an unknown territory. And it’s the greatest legacy of the Magic Kingdom.”

When Haryun spoke with a troubled tone, Ian shook his head.

“Anyway, the Magic Tower will come to talk about this soon. If you feel pressured, tell me directly.”

Ian said lightly and returned to his room.

* * *

Several days passed, and a new furnace was completed in the academy.

Ian and Skrenda looked at the furnace with satisfaction.

“Wow. I never thought I’d be able to make a furnace like this. Ian, can I really manage this?”

It was much better than the furnace in the Dwarven City.

It was smaller in size, but the efficiency and functions were incomparable.

“The temperature control is easier through enchantments… and…”

Ian chuckled as Skrenda muttered while looking at the furnace.

“Then let’s make a test product first. When will the black lava be sent from the Dwarven City?”

“It will arrive in a few days. Black lava isn’t easy to transport.”

The dwarves of the Dwarven City were all preparing to move it.

After listening to Skrenda’s explanation, Ian checked the furnace once more and turned around.

“Where are you going?”

“I have to make an enchantment practice room now.”

“Is there anything I can help with?”

He had helped to make such a great furnace, so how could he just stand by?

Ian smiled as Skrenda rolled up his sleeves.

“Just stay here and help me later when I’m working on it.”

“Tell me anytime you need help.”

Skrenda patted Ian on the back.

After a brief conversation with him, Ian headed straight to the site for the new enchantment research lab.

Several mages were standing with serious expressions on the site prepared on the west side of the academy.

“What’s going on?”

“Ah, Ian.”

With them was Mitri, Oerina’s grandmother.

She smiled awkwardly, and then a few mages stepped forward.

“I am Cayman Baglan, Lord of the Magic Tower.”

“Ian Brandon.”

The old mage, who seemed to be the representative of the mages, stared at Ian intently.

Ian met his gaze without avoiding it.

“The Magic Tower agreed to provide support when building the enchantment practice room.”

“That’s right.”

“In return, we were supposed to receive several things from the academy. But we will decline that. Instead…”

“If you’re asking for knowledge related to dimensions or the legacy of the Magic Kingdom, I decline.”

“It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

“Come to the Magic Tower.”

What was this about?

Mitri smiled bitterly at his puzzled expression.

“To properly use the legacy of the Magic Kingdom, it would be better to raise your circle [level of magical mastery] with the help of the Magic Tower and learn about various magics, wouldn’t it?”

She said briefly and gazed at Ian with warm eyes.

“I heard you gain mana and create circles through mana extraction? The Magic Tower can provide enough mana for that.”

“And we’ll help you create a school.”

If a school is created, disciples will naturally join.

And.

If Ian, who founded the school, grows old and decides to retire?

The legacy of the Magic Kingdom would be passed on to his disciples.

That was what they were aiming for.

“You’re planning quite far ahead.”

“I’m not foolish enough to steal meat from a lion.”

Causing problems out of jealousy or greed was something only fools would do.

And there were no such fools in the Magic Tower.

How could such a fool enter the Magic Tower, which could be called the hall of wisdom in the first place?

“How about it? It doesn’t sound like a bad offer, does it?”

Cayman wore a confident expression.

The Magic Tower’s full support.

It would never be a bad offer.

Just as Ian was about to open his mouth after thinking for a moment, Cayman raised his hand to stop him.

“Of course, you don’t have to answer right away. You must have your own things to do. I heard you’re busy hunting demons?”

“It’s not that much… but how did you know that?”

“Who doesn’t know that Ian Brandon is hunting demons…”

Demons were enemies to most people living in this world anyway.

The Magic Tower’s current policy was to fight against demons, so they had no intention of holding back Ian, who was good at fighting.

“What do you think?”

“Sounds good.”

“Good. You’re easier to talk to than the Sword Saint, the Forest Keeper, or the Emperor.”

“If you’re saying something reasonable, there’s no reason why it wouldn’t work.”

Cayman smiled in satisfaction as Ian replied, and he left with the mages.

When he returned from working at the enchantment practice room site and was brewing tea in the lobby.

The students who had finished their classes returned.

Bala, who looked exhausted from working hard today, raised his hand weakly.

“Ugh… Ian. Make me some tea too…”

As he made and handed out the tea, Bala slowly sipped it and said.

“Ugh. I’m so tired… Ah. Right, did you meet them earlier?”

“Who? The Magic Tower?”

“Oh? No. The Scarlet Kingdom’s Crimson Knights Commander. Commander Keith Icevine.”

He hadn’t met them.

Park Bare, who had come in with him, collapsed on the sofa and said.

“An invitation to the Scarlet Kingdom? It seems like they brought something like that.”

Before, Eldan had come to nullify the unpleasant incident between the Scarlet Kingdom and the academy.

An apology along with the cancellation of designating Ian as an enemy.

He had even given a generous donation, so Headmaster Karzid had accepted it with a smile.

But the relationship between Ian and the Scarlet Kingdom had not changed significantly yet.

“They came to the dormitory earlier, looked for you, and just left.”

“Really?”

Ian simply nodded and sat comfortably on the sofa.

Meanwhile, as Myane climbed onto the table, Bala offered her some jerky he had.

“Myaah~ Myamyamya~”

“Did they go to meet Lakidra too?”

“Maybe.”

“You don’t seem very interested? The Scarlet Kingdom is officially inviting you.”

Ian simply sat on the sofa with his eyes closed, as if he had no interest.

Just as Myane had finished eating the jerky.

The door of the dormitory opened, and Wilval and Widia came in.

“Hey, Ian. Go outside.”

“Why?”

“Student Council President Rowena wants to see you for a moment.”

Ian immediately got up from his seat.

Leaving Myane behind, he went outside the dormitory and saw Rowena waiting as they had said.

“Why didn’t you just come in?”

“I have to talk about something that would be troublesome if others heard.”

Ian said nonchalantly to her, who was looking at him with teary eyes.

“If it’s a confession, I decline.”

“What confession?”

She looked around to make sure no one was listening.

“No one’s here, so just say it.”

“Really? Then listen carefully. This is confidential.”

Rowena swallowed hard and said in a very small voice.

“Bominda has gone missing.”

Bominda Scarlet.

Lakid’s half-brother, a prince of the Scarlet Kingdom, and the heir.

The Scarlet Kingdom was not a small country, so the fact that the prince of that country had gone missing.

It was by no means a normal matter.

“Oh. Really? It’s quiet for something like that.”

But to him, it was just someone else’s business.

Rowena clicked her tongue briefly at Ian’s indifferent reply.

“The prince of a country, even the heir, has gone missing. You can’t announce that openly.”

“Well… if there’s no heir, the kingdom won’t be stable. But the Scarlet Kingdom must have people they’re using in their own way, right?”

The Scarlet Kingdom was quite a strong kingdom among the countries of the continent, so they must have an intelligence department.

When Ian asked, she shook her head.

“They couldn’t find him either. And there’s one more problem.”

“What is it?”

“Strange things seem to be happening in the Scarlet Kingdom’s royal palace.”

People suddenly disappear.

Maids and knights who slept in the palace have strange dreams.

They see hallucinations.

They suddenly go crazy and rampage.

Things like the former king or the queen who died before appearing were happening.

“They also asked the Solar Church to investigate, but it doesn’t seem to be related to demons.”

She scratched her cheek.

“So they asked the academy to send someone who is most skilled at exploration.”

The person most skilled at exploration in the academy.

No matter who you ask, one person will be chosen.

It was Ian.

“You can see everything with just a glance. Can’t you solve Prince Bominda’s disappearance or the problems in the palace?”

“I guess so.”

He could just go and have Kirke do a search.

“How about it? Can you go? Of course, you can refuse.”

But since the Scarlet Kingdom would owe a great debt, the academy hoped that Ian would step up for this matter.

“The budget to create the facilities you requested is more than I thought.”

“I heard something similar. I should find out what’s going on.”

Rowena’s expression brightened.

At that time, Kirke reported calmly.

‘They wouldn’t.’

If Bominda disappeared like this.

And if problems continued to occur in the palace and even the king disappeared.

Who would succeed him in the end?

‘Is this the work of the Icevine County?’

Ian turned his head sharply.

As Kirke said, a woman in armor was walking from one side.

“It’s been a while.”

“It has.”

She stared at Rowena with cold eyes and said to Ian.

“Have you heard the story?”

“I heard Bominda has gone missing? And strange things are happening in the palace.”

“Yes.”

Keith said with a serious expression.

“Don’t come.”

Ian smiled and replied to her.

“What if I don’t want to?”

“I’m telling you for your own good. The same thing happened in the Pelle County.”

Pelle County.

It was where the guardians were investigating the demon-related drugs.

Such a thing had happened there too.

Keith continued to explain quietly to the puzzled pair.

“All the strong people there disappeared, and the phenomenon stopped only after Count Pelle and his family had all disappeared.”