Chapter 287

4.

Heptarion wasn't particularly well-known or popular.

But the story was different for the Caliber Magic Tower located here.

Of course, it wasn't more well-known or popular than other magic towers.

But it was undoubtedly the most popular place within Heptarion.

It was none other than one of the few magic towers in the Eternal World East Asia server that crafted magic weapons.

Because the merchants of the Caliber Magic Tower were busy going to and fro, selling in other cities.

The recognition of the Caliber Magic Tower could increase without people having to come to Heptarion.

Anyway, the Caliber Magic Tower was famous for that reason.

But the mages there were all on edge.

Especially Serena Belle Lumiere, who was even more irritated.

“No, who does he think he is, telling us to root out black mages or not???”

Serena spoke loudly, as if complaining that she really couldn't understand.

But no one went out of their way to stop Serena.

It was a harsh expression.

But there were many mages who agreed with Serena's opinion.

Only the disciple of the magic tower who had to deliver the message had a tearful face.

“No, we have a damn backlog of orders, is he going to take responsibility if all of these get canceled???”

“Th-that's not it, ma'am. I-it's a recommendation from th-the Sword Saint.”

“Recommendation, my foot. Does he even know how backed up we are? Are we busy for just a day or two? Isn't that right?”

The person Serena was talking to now was none other than the Sword Saint.

Of course, the Sword Saint couldn't hear her.

Serena's anger was justified.

The Caliber Magic Tower was always busy, without a moment to spare.

After all, the Caliber Magic Tower was flooded with order requests not only from the Rieskan Kingdom but also from other kingdoms and empires, especially magic towers and knight orders.

How could they handle such a large number of orders overnight?

Especially since it was one of the few magic towers in the Rieskan Kingdom.

But in the midst of that, he wants them to root out black mages?

Is this a joke?

“P-please calm d-down, Archmage Serena.”

“Do I look like I can calm down? Isn't the tower master just going to let it slide again???”

“Ye-yes……”

The disciple of the magic tower who was guiding her could only bow his head deeply.

Serena sighed deeply and shook her head.

“Haaaaa, right. What fault is it of yours? It’s the fault of our indecisive tower master.”

“Ye-yes…… The tower master also…… just told me to tell you to listen and let it go……”

“Alright. You can go back.”

“Th-thank you!”

“Wait.”

Serena had been fuming for a while.

But she seemed to feel a bit sorry.

She handed the disciple of the magic tower various materials.

“Th-thank you!!!”

“Yeah, sorry for getting angry for no reason. I wasn't angry at you.”

“Oh!! I know!!! Th-then!!!”

Because she had given him quite high-quality materials.

The disciple of the magic tower, overjoyed, bowed out with an excited expression, thinking of quickly going to experiment.

Serena spoke bluntly and had a fierce temperament.

But this was the very reason why everyone in the magic tower did not dislike her.

She had a fiery personality.

But she also had a transparent character, acknowledging what she had to and always compensating if she had done something wrong.

That's why she was also quite popular.

On top of that, she was skilled.

With such a personality and such skill, wasn't it only natural that she was recognized by the tower master and became the Archmage?

While everyone was acknowledging this.

Serena, still looking annoyed, accepted the directive that the magic tower disciple had just given her.

‘Hmph. To think the Sword Saint would make such a fuss to catch a single black mage outsider.’

She was a little intrigued.

But she pushed it out of her mind.

Right now, securing the materials and meeting the quantities was more urgent than this kind of work.

She glanced over the various matters attached and moved on.

She looked at the remaining materials.

And examined the materials needed for the next order.

The materials she had just given away were not particularly important, so it didn't matter.

‘Hmmm, it's a bit short.’

There were some materials that were a little short.

It looked like she would have to go quite far.

‘It's annoying, but it can't be helped.’

She could fight alone.

But as an enchantment mage, her combat skills were not particularly outstanding.

But where was this?

Wasn't it the magic tower of the Rieskan Kingdom?

Naturally, there were quite a few magic tower escort knights.

Even if not escort knights, there were also plenty of mercenaries who would take on escort duties.

It seemed she could just take one of them.

With that thought, Serena left her laboratory and went to the place where the escort knights were waiting.

And she heard a rather interesting story.

“So you are the outsider who came with a letter of recommendation.”

Hearing the words of the escort knight captain coming from the room, Serena's ears perked up.

There were a few outsider escort knights among the mercenaries.

But Serena had never gone with them before.

Because she had heard they were not particularly skilled.

But this time, it seemed a bit different.

“To have a letter of recommendation from another magic tower. Your skills must be guaranteed.”

“……I am only grateful that you see me in a good light.”

“Enough with the modesty. There is nowhere that would write a letter of recommendation for someone without skill. Then, the things we have to do are……”

After hearing up to that point.

Serena, looking amused, quickly jumped out and cut off the escort knight captain.

“Newbie?”

At the sight of Serena, who had suddenly appeared, speaking like that, the escort knight captain was startled.

A mage of Serena's level had intentionally hidden her presence, so it was only natural that he hadn't noticed.

The escort knight captain, seeing Serena, quickly stood up and greeted her.

“Ah! Archmage Serena, you have arrived?”

“Yeah, so, a newbie?”

“Yes, that’s him. Please, introduce yourself.”

At the escort knight captain’s urgent words.

The knight in the pure white robe, who had his back turned, turned around.

And a rather neat and handsome outsider knight could be seen.

Serena smiled mysteriously at the sight.

And the outsider knight greeted Serena.

“Hello, I am Yoosung, the new recruit.”

“Yoosung? That’s a good name.”

“Thank you.”

“I heard you were skilled.”

Serena said that and looked at the escort knight captain.

The escort knight captain nodded and replied.

“Yes, there was a letter of recommendation from another magic tower saying he is one of the rare outsiders who can pull their own weight.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

“Yes, it was a letter of recommendation from the notoriously strict Serul Spire.”

“Oh? If it’s from there, he must be reliable. Then I can take him with me, right?”

“Of course. Serve her well.”

The escort knight captain said, giving a hint to the user who introduced himself as Yoosung.

Yoosung also nodded and replied to the escort knight captain.

“Yes, I’ll be back.”

With those words, Serena, as if pleased.

Left the place with Yoosung.

And in the escort knight captain’s office, which Serena and Yoosung had left, only a sigh of relief was let out.

“Phew, Lady Serena’s missions are always tough. What a relief.”

Usually, the escort knight captain himself always went.

He shook his head, glad that she seemed to have taken an interest in the newbie this time.

The newbie will have to hold up well.

He was a bit worried since he was an outsider.

From what he had seen of other outsiders, they didn't last very long.

This time, he had a letter of recommendation, so he wondered how it would be.

‘Sseup, Lady Serena is a bit peculiar, so…….’

He was a bit concerned if he would endure well.

But Serena didn't have a bad personality.

He decided to just leave it be for now and started on his other duties.

5.

Yoosung, no, Seonghyun, who had come out of Heptarion with Serena, couldn't help but cheer inwardly.

He had come in as a newbie.

He had expected to be stuck doing grunt work for a few days.

But what was this?

From the very first day, he was contacted by someone who seemed quite high-ranking.

And it was someone even the escort knight captain was nervous around.

‘An Archmage must be a pretty high position, right?’

Seonghyun thought that the conditions might become easier than he thought.

Honestly, it was great to be involved with a mage of such a high position from the beginning.

He hadn't been fully briefed on the mission.

But fortunately, Serena kindly explained.

“The place we’re going now is the Hatred Mine. When I’m mining ore there, you just have to protect me. Easy, right?”

“Yes. I understand.”

“Hmph, they said you were skilled, so I’ll have some expectations?”

“Thank you.”

Contrary to the escort knight captain's worries.

Serena explained quite kindly, and Seonghyun, for his part, had no particular thought of quitting.

And so, on the field heading to the Hatred Mine, two rather huge monsters appeared.

A monster that looked like what would happen if a goblin became gigantic.

Its size was about 5 meters, large enough to be considered a giant.

Despite the sudden appearance of the monsters, neither Seonghyun nor Serena were surprised; rather, they looked at them as if it were a good thing.

It was a moment where the objectives of Serena, who had wanted to see Seonghyun's skills on the way here, and Seonghyun, who wanted to close the distance a bit by showing his abilities, momentarily aligned.

“What do you think, can you handle it?”

Serena's voice, tinged with a slight provocation.

But Seonghyun, far from taking it as a provocation, answered as if it didn't matter.

“Yes.”

As he answered as if it were nothing.

Serena looked at Seonghyun with interest, and Seonghyun, along with his answer, immediately shot forward.

Puuuuu—!!!

Seonghyun, who had been standing on two feet until a moment ago, left deep footprints in the ground and flew forward as if the air had exploded. He shot out, carving a long tail in the air like a meteor's tail, as if stars were pouring around his body.

At the sight of Seonghyun flying in like a meteor in an instant, Serena watched him as if he were beautiful.

The two green giants, startled by the sparkling Seonghyun who flew in in an instant, belatedly tried to prepare for battle.

But the stars held within the sword moved, and stars bloomed as if night had come and stars were rising, and as those stars lightly touched the giants' necks.

Puwaaaaaaah——!!!

A long line of blood appeared on their necks, and a waterfall of blood poured out.

But the giant's neck, still thick, was not completely severed.

As Seonghyun swung his sword at the giant again.

At that moment, a light shimmered and imbued the sword.

And like the rays of light emitting from a star, the sword strike was swung, and it lopped off the giant's head.

Seo———geok!!!

But that wasn't the end.

Before the remaining giant could even grasp the situation.

An aura like the Milky Way unfurled as seven constellations formed from the sword, its tip pouring down like a torrent of starlight flashes.

Pububububuk!!!

As the seven starlights twinkled.

The giant's body was pierced with seven holes, and it died on the spot.

Kuuuuung——!!!

As the two giants were destroyed and disappeared in an instant.

Serena, watching, blinked as if doubting her eyes.

She had expected him to be skilled and had heard as much.

But to take down two green giants this quickly?

“……Wow.”

Honestly, she couldn't help but be impressed.

As she looked at Seonghyun, thinking that such a swordsmanship existed.

Seonghyun looked at Serena and said.

“They’ve been taken care of. Let’s go.”

“……R-right.”

And so, Serena and Seonghyun, who started off again with a dazed reply.

But then, there was a voice that only Seonghyun could hear.

-You’re having a lot of fun, aren’t you.

At Helena's voice, Seonghyun was puzzled.

-??????

-Hmph.

And after that, Helena said nothing more.

‘What was that?’