The Problematic Child of the Magic Tower

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 131: Artificial Island, Ivemir (8)

Creeeeak.

A heavy metallic sound echoed as the basement-connected door swung open, sending dust and rust scattering into the air.

“……”

“……”

The group grimaced as they stared into the dark, eerie basement.

They had merely opened the door, yet an ominous and sticky aura already permeated the space.

“This place looks seriously uninviting. Are we really going in?”

“……Hmph.”

The AI control room was located deep within the underground levels.

If it felt this oppressive at the entrance, the pressure would only intensify the deeper they went.

Under normal circumstances, they would have hesitated—perhaps even reconsidered multiple times.

‘But we have no other choice.’

Waiting on the surface to die was far worse than taking the fight to their enemy.

Having made up his mind, Oscar responded briefly.

“We’re going.”

Oscar began descending the stairs leading into the basement.

The staircase was so long that its end was nowhere in sight.

Even after walking for 30 minutes, there was no sign of reaching the lower level.

Fran spoke up.

“Oscar, are we trapped in some kind of illusion? Like an infinite staircase or something?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

Oscar recalled the map they had seen earlier.

“According to the map, the distance between the first floor and the basement level is around 2.1 kilometers.”

“……Are you kidding me? What the hell did they build down here to dig this deep?”

“You got a glimpse earlier. There are three key facilities in the basement.”

The first was the waste and pollution treatment facility.

The second was a semi-permanent mana generation facility.

And the last was their destination—the AI control facility.

“I’ve never seen the AI control facility before, but the other two require a massive amount of space.”

“I can see why waste disposal needs space, but semi-permanent mana generation? Is that even possible?”

“In theory, yes.”

The reason it was possible was that the artificial island had been built in the center of a vast lake.

Oscar pressed his index finger to his lips, then tapped his ear.

“Listen carefully. Do you hear that?”

At his words, the group fell silent and focused.

Soon, a faint noise hidden beneath their breathing reached their ears.

Swoooosh.

Veronica furrowed her brows.

“That sounds like… water falling?”

“Exactly. It’s coming from an artificial waterfall.”

A massive waterfall plunging from a height of 2.1 kilometers.

It was the foundation of the artificial island’s mana generation system.

“The reason the facilities still have power even after 200 years is that the power plant is still functioning.”

“I see… That’s a system most places couldn’t replicate.”

“Only the Imperial Family could afford to build a hydroelectric power plant on this scale.”

At last, they reached the bottom of the staircase, where a vast space made of gray bricks came into view.

The ceiling was so high that it felt like they had stepped into a massive underground sewer system.

Swoooosh!

Now that they were further down, the waterfall’s roar was much louder.

Oscar felt the pressure in his ears and spoke up.

“The AI control room is this way.”

The path was wide and straightforward, so there was no risk of getting lost.

However, the moment they turned a corner, all four of them halted in their tracks.

“You’ve come a long way.”

“But this is as far as you go.”

“We cannot allow you to proceed any further.”

Three voices completed a single sentence, spoken by the dozens of mages blocking their path.

From behind, Kilian’s deep voice rang out.

“Oscar.”

When Oscar turned, he saw that dozens more mages had appeared at their rear.

A perfect encirclement.

Fran muttered in despair.

“How many people has that monster killed?!”

“……It didn’t kill them all.”

According to their communications, only 19 people had been confirmed dead in this place.

Yet the number of enemies before them far exceeded that.

“Even we didn’t die to that thing, yet it’s mimicking us right now.”

“Huh? Now that you mention it, that’s true.”

This meant their enemy could replicate any target it had observed—even without killing them.

‘……Even the ones we just killed are standing there.’

That implied that their foe had an almost infinite supply of mana.

As Oscar listened to the roaring waterfall, he fell into thought.

‘It’s likely using the power generated by that waterfall to create these illusions.’

If that was the case, then rather than engaging in a pointless battle of attrition, eliminating the source was the smarter move.

Oscar swiftly scanned their numbers.

‘Fifty-three.’

The exact same number as the enemies they had fought earlier in the upper-level corridor.

That meant the enemy could summon a maximum of 53 copies at any given time.

Having made his decision, Oscar spoke.

“The three of you—head to the power plant and shut it down.”

He felt the shocked gazes of his comrades bore into his back.

“Are you insane? What are you planning to do alone?”

“The number of summoned mages has never exceeded 53.”

Veronica’s eyes narrowed.

“……So there’s a limit to how many illusions it can create?”

“Exactly. If you three head toward the power plant, it will be forced to split its forces.”

Logically, it would prioritize sending more troops after the larger group rather than a lone opponent.

That meant Oscar would have an opening.

Understanding the strategy, the three nodded.

“No choice, then. You’re the strongest among us.”

“We’ll disable the power plant and then regroup with you.”

“That means we need to break through one side first.”

Without hesitation, the four of them charged toward the smaller group ahead.

In an instant, they wiped out twenty illusions, and as they ran down the corridor, a fork in the path appeared before them.

Oscar, who had been running without slowing down, shouted.

“Don’t let your guard down! There might be stronger ones in the important facilities!”

“Don’t worry about us!”

“Worry about yourself!”

Seriously, these guys hated losing.

Oscar let out a dry chuckle, exchanged glances with the three, and then took the opposite path from them.

He aimed two fingers at the mages rising from the floor.

『Wind Bullet』

“Give up.”

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Crack!

Even as they dissolved into smoke, the enemies did not stop talking.

“To be honest, we used to be afraid of the Masters of the Four Great Magic Towers. We had to stay hidden until they left.”

“But things are different now. Even if we were to fight them head-on, we’re confident we would win.”

Hearing this, Oscar scoffed.

“You think you can beat a Tower Master in a direct fight? With this pathetic level?”

Twitch.

Perhaps that remark got under his skin, as the old mage blocking Oscar’s path twitched his eyebrows.

“...Foolish. You do not understand my true power.”

“My power reaches the heavens, and my knowledge is as deep as the sea.”

“It’s only natural that you don’t comprehend. Humans are mere mortals who die so easily.”

The opponent showed no real intention of attacking.

He only kept spouting words as if leaving a will before his death.

‘He’s pretty confident, isn’t he?’@@novelbin@@

It was as if he didn’t care whether Oscar reached the Artificial Intelligence Control Room or not.

No—rather, it felt like he was hoping Oscar would get there sooner.

‘Is this the place?’

A location where even the sound of waterfalls could barely be heard.

As Oscar stared at the door before him, another mage rose up beside him.

“Why are you hesitating to go in? Weren’t you confident?”

“…I was going in even if you didn’t say anything.”

Oscar put a hole in the mage’s forehead as well and stepped through the door.

The stench of rot filled the room, and at its center stood a massive, transparent cylindrical tank.

Inside, something that resembled an insect was moving around.

[Ah, you’ve finally arrived.]

The thing pressed up against the tank looked like an earthworm, yet also like a fragment of a brain.

[Welcome to my room. You’re the first visitor to this place in 200 years.]

“…”

Oscar scanned the room.

There wasn’t much that stood out.

‘…A broken lever mechanism?’

Scattered across the floor were shattered metal fragments, utterly destroyed.

Noticing his gaze, the creature spoke.

[Oh, that? Yeah, I broke it. Pulling that lever was seriously painful.]

“So, you do feel pain.”

[Of course. Despite my appearance, I’m still a living being.]

The thing wiggled proudly.

[From what I hear, it seems like you’ve already figured out what I am, haven’t you?]

“…A homunculus.”

[That’s right. Wow, it’s been ages since I last heard that name. Brings back memories.]

Its voice took on a nostalgic tone, as if it were reminiscing.

“Are you done talking?”

[I still have plenty more to say. What, are you in a hurry? Should I just kill you now?]

This was an entity that had tried to attack and kill him outright.

If possible, eliminating it quickly would be the best way to prevent future trouble.

Oscar completed the spell he had been preparing in secret and extended his hand.

『Wind Blade』

A sharp blade of wind shot toward the cylindrical tank.

Clang!

However, not even the faintest crack appeared on the glass-like structure.

[Fool. This is reinforced glass. It’s so absurdly strong that even sword energy can’t leave a mark.]

“…”

So, physical attacks wouldn’t work.

Then how about this?

Taking a deep breath, Oscar slowly stepped forward.

[What? Why? Are you coming closer to get a better look?]

As if to mock him, the creature pressed itself right up against the glass.

‘If this tank itself acts as a protective barrier…’

Then he just had to bypass it and directly deal damage to the creature.

Clenching his fist tightly, Oscar threw his strike.

Oscar-Style Martial Arts, Secret Technique: First Form—

Wave Sound.

Crash!

This time, the reaction inside the tank was entirely different.

Like waves crashing, the water inside churned violently.

[Ah?]

At the same time, a sharp, space-tearing scream echoed.

[Kyaaahhhhhh!]

[Aaaaghhh!]

[Guaaahh!]

[Kyaaaak!]

It was a bizarre scream, as if multiple voices were crying out in unison.

The moment he heard it, Oscar felt his entire body convulse, his meridians twisting.

A mouthful of blood surged up and spilled from his lips.

‘Just hearing that scream is enough to do this to me?’

As Oscar wore a look of disbelief, the creature, now pressed against the opposite side of the glass, muttered.

[Y-You… You can make me feel pain?]

For over 200 years, it had never once experienced pain.

But now, this long-forgotten sensation awakened emotions it had buried deep.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]