Raided The God’S Warehouse [EN]: Chapter 323

327. Coral Tower Lord Inauguration

I thought it would end with the simple reward of handing over power, but the outcome was different than expected.

“Identity? I don’t know what you mean.”

The Coral Tower Lord abruptly inquired about Se-un’s identity.

I feigned ignorance, but his eyes weren’t filled with mere suspicion. They were filled with conviction.

It was as if he already knew Se-un hailed from the Tower.

‘Is it alright to discuss this?’

This place isn’t entirely real. Well, it *is* real, but the term ‘not real’ is more fitting in this context.

According to the commentator who sent Se-un here, this location was a captured timeline from another dimension, bound by a contract with the Tower.

In other words, it’s akin to a trial within the Tower.

All the mages here are genuine, but the moment Se-un departs, the timeline will reset, and the selection of the Coral Tower Lord will also be nullified.

Se-un seriously questioned whether it was wise to discuss this fact in such a place.

While most players might be unaware, the concept of ‘causality’ is of paramount importance within the Tower.

“Judging by your expression, it seems you’re unable to speak about it, rather than unwilling.”

Indeed, the Coral Tower Lord was perceptive. I didn’t believe I had revealed anything through my expression, yet he immediately discerned Se-un’s thoughts.

When he was seated in the Flame Chair observing the match, I had perceived him as an old man with minimal interest in worldly affairs.

However, his eyes were shining brighter than those of any young mage.

“If that’s the case, simply nod. I’ll proceed by talking to myself.”

If he was going to say that much, I couldn’t simply ignore it.

It seemed difficult to receive the reward in this situation, so Se-un quietly nodded.

Then, the Coral Tower Lord continued his reasoning as if satisfied.

“First of all, you’re not from this continent… no, this dimension.”

Nod.

“Haha, even the Resonance Tower, which has dedicated centuries to the study of space-time, can barely manage to move within the continent, let alone across dimensions. No, it’s not magic at all.”

He was correct from the start.

If he had stopped there, we could have parted ways amicably, but unfortunately, the Coral Tower Lord’s reasoning extended beyond Se-un’s expectations.

“If you’ve traversed dimensions, then the next deduction becomes plausible. Dimensions are inherently intertwined with time.”

The Coral Tower Lord’s expression subtly darkened. It was as if he hoped Se-un would deny his next question.

Since becoming a mage, this was the first time he wished for his deduction to be incorrect.

“Perhaps… am I trapped within a detached axis of space-time?”

It was natural to hope he was wrong.

What would it feel like if a game character realized they were merely data within a game?

If Se-un nodded now, the Coral Tower Lord would experience a similar sensation.

However, Se-un couldn’t bring himself to lie.

As a fellow mage, I could sense it.

Even if he was frustrated by Se-un’s answer, what he truly desired was the ‘truth’.

After considerable deliberation, Se-un nodded, and the Coral Tower Lord let out a soft sigh.

“I see. That explains the source of the incongruity I felt when the selection ceremony commenced.”

Incongruity.

That must have been why the Coral Tower Lord’s expression was somber when he descended to preside over the selection.

“Thank you for revealing the truth. If time is indeed involved, then this inauguration will mark the end of this axis of time.”

Se-un nodded once more.

As he stated, the moment I receive the reward of the inauguration, the trial will conclude, and Se-un will depart from this place.

I couldn’t be certain, but at that instant, time here would likely revert to the initial moment of the selection ceremony.

“Haa… I understand.”

The Coral Tower Lord conjured a Flame Chair, sat down, and yawned wearily, but there was nothing Se-un could do.

I was concerned he might leave without bestowing the reward, but fortunately, he soon regained his composure and raised his head.

“Still, I must fulfill my obligations. Before that… could I ask you a favor?”

“What favor are you referring to?”

“Once my mission is complete, please destroy this dimension.”

I understood his reasoning. He didn’t wish to return to a past where he remained ignorant, once the timeline reset.

However, this was beyond Se-un’s capabilities.

The act of destroying space-time was typically reserved for gods. In fact, only a select few gods possessed such power.

When Se-un shook his head, the Coral Tower Lord continued with a resolute expression.

“No, you are capable of it.”

“I am not.”

“I will prepare everything. I won’t hold you accountable even if you fail. In fact, it will be after I’ve bestowed everything upon you… If you choose to ignore my request, I would have no way of knowing.”

“…Is that so.”

“Of course, I understand you have no inherent reason to comply. There might even be penalties involved. So…”

The Coral Tower Lord extended his staff.

A red jewel was embedded at the end of the staff, appearing incomparably more luxurious than the Ruby Staff that Se-un had won as a bet in the first match.

In terms of item grade, it was undoubtedly at least S-grade or higher.

As Se-un recognized the significant difference between possessing a staff and not having one, it was quite a tempting offer.

“I will give you this.”

“…Are you serious?”

“What does it matter when existence is on the verge of disappearing anyway? If you desire, I can give you everything within my power right now.”

Cloak, necklace, bracelet, etc. Befitting the reputation of the continent’s foremost mage, all the items he was wearing were of exceptional value.

Although I felt slightly uneasy, there was nothing within the trial’s guidelines that prohibited disrupting the axis of time, so there was no reason to decline.

“I understand.”

“That’s the response I was hoping for. Just wait a moment.”

Whoosh!

A spark emanated from the center between Se-un and the Coral Tower Lord.

It stretched out in a straight line, then bent at a right angle, and soon formed a curve, eventually completing a circle.

This wasn’t limited to two dimensions; the flames flickered and floated in the air, creating a three-dimensional magic circle.

A complex magic circle that defied any attempt to guess the type of magic imbued within it.

When Se-un displayed a surprised expression, the Coral Tower Lord proudly introduced the magic circle.

“This is a magic circle created by my old friend, the Resonance Tower Lord. It’s a magic circle designed to disrupt space-time.”

“Such a magic circle existed?”

“Of course, it’s not flawless. It can only temporarily destroy limited space-time. However, where in the world does one find such a thing as truly limited space-time?”

“It’s like a magic circle tailor-made for this moment.”

“Haha, now that you mention it, it is. I had thought the Resonance Tower Lord had lost his mind creating such a magic circle in his later years. I wonder if he foresaw the future.”

The magic circle was complete.

The Coral Tower Lord finalized the process by inserting his staff into the center to maintain the mana.

It seemed he was taking the minimum precaution to prevent Se-un from absconding with the staff without fulfilling his end of the bargain, as he instructed me to activate the magic circle after the inauguration ceremony and then take the staff.

“Sit here.”

“Is there anything I should be mindful of?”

“There’s nothing to be particularly careful of… You already possess the Ring of Fire.”

“You don’t need to worry about it…”

“I can’t manipulate the other rings at will. However, if you desire, I can infuse mana of the light attribute.”

“Are you serious?”

Se-un’s eyes widened.

To reach the Infinity Circle following the Rainbow Circle, one must create circles of all attributes.

For that reason, I had intended to make the next circle one of a different attribute as well, but I was giving up after hearing that the Coral Tower Lord was a fire mage.

I was planning to gather mana for now and create the circle separately later. But he was offering to inject mana of the light attribute.

If possible, I thought I could create the seventh circle immediately with the White Tower’s circle.

“Although I specialize in fire, I have gained insights while reaching the 8th Circle. If it were a completely disparate attribute like water, I wouldn’t be able to manage it, but with mana of light, which is relatively close to fire, I can convert it.”

“Please do.”

“Haha, then please take good care of my request.”

Following the Coral Tower Lord’s instructions, Se-un sat comfortably in his seat.

Flames rose from his body, and hot air flowed out as if he was preparing to inject power in earnest.

Sizzle-.

The hot air soon brightened like warm sunlight, and dazzling light, akin to the sun, flowed out of his body instead of flames.

Although it was close to fire, it was still strictly a light attribute.

Se-un was also preparing to accept it.

[ White Mana Circle ]

– A powerful training method said to have been created by the White Tower, one of the Empire’s Seven Great Magic Towers, to combat the Demon King’s army.

I integrated the White Tower’s training method into my mind.

Immediately, the Coral Tower Lord’s mana was absorbed through my back.

Perhaps because it was light, yet hadn’t completely abandoned the fire attribute, my back felt intensely hot, as if it were being burned.

‘I have to endure it.’

Still, Se-un remained composed and didn’t move.

He gritted his teeth, accepting the permeating mana and enveloping it around his heart.

I accepted the mana into the sixth circle and filled the empty space.

Thanks to the Coral Tower Lord’s mana being so potent, I was able to fill the circle rapidly.

Thud!

The moment the sixth circle was filled, clear blood flowed from my mouth, accompanied by a sensation of something breaking through.

Se-un immediately began creating the seventh mana circle.

I accepted the mana of the light attribute as it was and wrapped it around the existing circle, embracing it warmly.

“It seems you have already gained enlightenment.”

“It’s thanks to the mages’ matches.”

“Haha, we are alike. Thanks to you, I felt my rigid mind loosening up.”

The Coral Tower Lord’s mana was truly immense. However, it wasn’t the first time I had accepted such a vast amount of mana, so it wasn’t particularly difficult or challenging.

Se-un divided the excessively pouring mana into two streams.

One stream was directed straight to the circle of the heart, and the remaining stream was moved towards the dantian [energy center in the lower abdomen, a concept in Eastern traditions].

“A magic core in the stomach… Is he a dragon or something? I can’t believe it.”

“Please continue.”

“Ordinarily, even the most exceptional mage has a limit to the amount of mana they can accept… But you should be able to overcome that.”

I was expecting it. Even if it’s an inauguration ceremony, it doesn’t imply he’s pouring in all his mana.

If one could reach the current 10th circle as the Coral Tower Lord simply by receiving mana, they would have been able to obtain a mana amount reaching the 9th circle… no, the 10th circle.

The reason why that’s impossible was naturally because mages are human.

Even if someone bestows mana upon you, there’s a limit to the amount you can assimilate.

Se-un was surpassing that limit with his dantian.

Soon, the seventh circle was perfectly established.

– You have successfully created the seventh mana circle through the White Tower’s training method.

– The mana fusion power increases according to the mysteries of the White Tower’s training method.

– You have achieved a great feat.

– You have acquired 500,000 points as a reward.

“Congratulations. On becoming a 7th circle mage.”

Finally, I broke through the realm where I had been stuck and was able to reach the 7th circle mage.