The Return of the Legendary All-Master

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 296

The Magic Tower had entered a state of emergency.

“What’s the status of the Delphos Duchy?”

“There doesn’t seem to be any major issues yet!”

“What…? The barrier was shattered, and you’re saying there are no problems?”

It was because of the barrier that had been installed in the Delphos Duchy.

The barrier was something the Magic Tower kept a close watch on, and the reason was the monsters lurking beyond it.

The moment those monsters crossed into the empire through the Delphos Duchy, the empire would be wiped from history.

“I don’t know either…”

“Hah, we’ll have to activate an additional barrier.”

“A-A barrier?”

The barrier he was referring to was the one installed at the border between the empire’s northern region and the Delphos Duchy.

Once the barrier was activated, the Delphos Duchy would be completely cut off from the empire, making movement impossible.

In other words, the people living in the Delphos Duchy would be trapped there.

The problem was that the severe cold would only intensify, and those untrained in enduring it wouldn’t last even a week before freezing to death.

Simply put, they were going to abandon Delphos to protect the empire.

“Then do you have another solution? The former Tower Master said it himself. If the barrier collapses, this is how we protect the empire.”

“…Does the Duke of Delphos know about this?”

“He doesn’t. If he did, he wouldn’t be sitting still like that.”

“That’s true.”

“Contact the other Tower Masters immediately. Tell them I need to see them.”

“Understood.”

Activating the barrier would take time.

So, for now, they could only hope that the Duke of Delphos would buy them enough time.

* * *

The Magic Towers within the empire.

There were a total of five.

The Red Tower, Blue Tower, Green Tower, White Tower, and Black Tower.

These five Tower Masters had come together to install the barrier in the Delphos Duchy.

And the first tower Jeong-hoon visited was the Red Tower.

‘Hoon, Darvis is truly a fascinating place.’

That was something Alessandro had boasted about before Jeong-hoon’s regression.

He had practically monopolized the hidden themes.

And among the things he had shared about Darvis, there was one particular detail—there were two hidden themes concealed within it.

‘One in the Red Tower, and the other in the Black Tower.’

He had spoken about the hidden themes as if he still remembered them vividly.

Because of that, Jeong-hoon, who remembered everything, had chosen the Red Tower as his first destination.

“Stop! This is a sacred Magic Tower, and only those who possess the qualifications of a mage may enter!”

The Magic Tower in Darvis wasn’t much different from those in other cities.

At the entrance, a mage clad in a deep hooded robe appeared and blocked Jeong-hoon’s path.

===

[NPC Information]

- Nickname: Haro

- Level: 345

- Class: Hyper Magician (4th Advancement)

===

Level 345 Hyper Magician.

A piercing gaze visible through the robe.

It meant he was hostile toward Jeong-hoon, an outsider.

Jeong-hoon calmly raised both hands.

"I came because I have business at the Red Tower."

"Business? I'm sorry, but outsiders are prohibited from entering."

"Is that so? Even when it's about the barrier of the Delphos Grand Duchy?"

"...What?"

The once-sharp gaze twitched slightly.

So he does know that the barrier around the Delphos Grand Duchy has been broken.

Then why haven't they taken immediate action?

‘Is there another reason?’

Jeong-hoon observed him with the sharp eyes of a hawk, determined not to miss anything.

Before his regression, James Marcus’s party had not completed this episode quest perfectly.

That meant from this point on, Jeong-hoon had to rely solely on his own judgment.

"You don’t need to worry too much. No monsters have poured out."

"I-Is that so?"

"Yes. If they had, the Delphos Grand Duchy wouldn't be so quiet."

If monsters had truly poured out, the entire northern region, including Delphos, would have been devastated.

"...Regardless, thank you for informing me. Now, please return safely."

Haro gave a half-hearted nod and turned away.

"Then, aren't you curious why no monsters have poured out?"

Jeong-hoon threw the question at his back.

Haro frowned and turned to meet Jeong-hoon's gaze again.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

"I want to meet the Tower Master."

"I’ll say it again, outsiders are—"

Tap.

Jeong-hoon stepped forward using the Heavenly Demon Lord's Dominion.

In an instant, he reached Haro and drew the Dagger of the Shadow King, pressing it against his throat.

"Lead me there quietly before I have to force my way in."

"…Are you saying you intend to make an enemy of the Tower?"

Haro asked without losing his composure.

"If necessary, yes."

If his suspicions were correct, they were planning to abandon Delphos.

Otherwise, there was no reason for their inaction.

‘The Empire must share the same stance.’

If the Empire opposed it, they wouldn’t be responding so passively.

In that case, he would have to suppress them by force.

"Then go ahead and try."

Haro scoffed.

Did this man truly think he could take on the Magic Tower, which had the Empire backing it, all by himself?

What a ridiculous joke.

That dagger would never cut his throat.

"Aren't you taking your life too lightly?"

"Because I know you won’t do it. Right now, the Magic Tower is watching everything you do. The moment that dagger attacks me, the Tower will deem you an enemy and respond with overwhelming force."

Haro smirked.

"Is that so? Then I guess this method won’t work."

Jeong-hoon’s lips curled into a smile.

He withdrew his dagger and resumed a polite stance.

"I'm relieved you're not someone who makes rash decisions."

"Yes. Then, I’ll ask you to lead the way."

"...What?"

[Activating Brainwashing.]

He could have slit his throat right then and there, but he preferred to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.

As Jeong-hoon cast Brainwashing, Haro’s pupils unfocused.

‘Treat me with utmost respect.’

The spell took effect successfully, and Haro bowed politely.

"Please, come inside."

With Haro leading the way, Jeong-hoon entered the Red Tower.

Inside, the mages exchanged bewildered glances between Haro and Jeong-hoon.

[Activating Brainwashing.]

Jeong-hoon cast Brainwashing on every mage he encountered.

Just like Haro, they were commanded to treat him with the utmost respect, and each one complied obediently.

"Where is the Tower Master?"

"Yes, please follow me."

Following Haro’s guidance, they ascended to the very top of the tower.

As the door to the uppermost chamber opened, Jeong-hoon saw mages busily moving about inside.

"How dare you enter this place?!"

A thunderous voice rang out.

Jeong-hoon turned his head.

===

[NPC Information]

- Nickname: Lacard

- Level: 480@@novelbin@@

- Class: Red Tower Master

===

He was the Level 480 Red Tower Master.

"So, you’re the Tower Master?"

Jeong-hoon asked with a smirk.

"…How did an outsider make it in here?"

Lacard glared at Haro as he questioned him.

"They let me in since I'm a mage as well."

"A mage?"

"Yes."

Jeong-hoon conjured a Magic Missile.

As the highly concentrated Magic Missile formed, Lacard nodded.

Creating a Magic Missile of this level was impossible unless one was a mage.

"I see. So, why have you come here?"

"It's about the barrier."

"The barrier?"

Lacard's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"Yes. As you know, the barrier placed over the Duke's Territory of Delphos has been broken. You should be well aware of what happens next."

"Of course. I was just about to take measures to address that issue."

"Is that so?"

[Activating Brainwashing.]

Jeong-hoon cast Brainwashing on Lacard as well.

Despite being the Red Tower Master and a Level 480 mage, the overwhelming level and stat difference made it easy for Jeong-hoon to take control.

'Too easy.'

He had made it this far without spilling any blood.

"…Do you have a request?"

Lacard, now under Brainwashing, bowed respectfully.

"What was your plan to resolve this?"

"I intended to activate an additional barrier."

"An additional barrier?"

"Yes."

"And what happens to the Duke's Territory of Delphos if you do that?"

"The territory will become uninhabitable due to the barrier's effects."

"So, you're sacrificing the Duke's Territory to protect the Empire."

"Yes, that's correct."

Unbelievable.

With things progressing this way, there was no way to complete the Hidden Episode.

"Have you contacted the other Tower Masters?"

"I was just about to establish communication with them."

"I see. Is there a way to remove the barrier in the Duke's Territory?"

"Yes. If we gather the barrier nullification spells from each Tower, we can deactivate it."

"Okay. Then, bring me all the nullification spells stored in this Red Tower."

"Understood."

By collecting the nullification spells from each Tower and dismantling the barrier over the Duke's Territory of Delphos, he could complete the Hidden Episode.

'Before that, I need to find the Hidden Theme as well.'

Even though Jeong-hoon had obtained Ultimate Power and was experiencing explosive growth, his magic progression was stuck at the 4th Circle.

No matter what he did, he couldn't advance his Circles further. He would need the help of the Hidden Theme to continue growing.

* * *

After acquiring the Red Tower’s nullification spells, Jeong-hoon immediately descended to the underground levels.

With all the Red Tower mages already under Brainwashing, there was nothing restricting his movements.

"Go ahead."

The brainwashed mages personally opened the sealed door leading underground.

"Thank you."

The underground area was used as a storage facility for magic tools.

Back then, Alessandro had visited the Red Tower for magical research, unrelated to any episode.

Naturally, he had to complete numerous quests to build trust with the Tower Master, which eventually granted him the opportunity to view the magic tools.

During that process, he had discovered the Hidden Theme.

'I got here in an instant.'

Without Brainwashing, it wouldn't have been this easy to reach this place.

"Do you need guidance?"

"No, I'll look around on my own."

"Understood. Please take your time."

Left alone, Jeong-hoon began to walk.

The underground area consisted of three floors, all of which served as storage rooms for magic tools.

'There should be a Crystal Orb here.'

A Crystal Orb that would lead him to the Hidden Theme.

However, the first floor was filled with weapons, including staves.

Their grades ranged from Unique to Epic.

Taking just one wouldn't cause any problems.

But none of them particularly caught his eye.

Jeong-hoon moved down to the second floor.

While the first floor contained weapons, the second floor stored artifacts and consumable magic tools.

'No Crystal Orb here either…'

It had only been stated that the Crystal Orb was found in this place.

Its exact location wasn't mentioned.

After thoroughly searching, Jeong-hoon proceeded to the third floor.

And there, he finally found the Crystal Orb that Alessandro had spoken of.

"It looks exactly like the one I saw in the First Village."

The shattered Crystal Orb he had once discovered inside a straw hut.

One such Crystal Orb was buried in the corner.

Jeong-hoon reached out and touched it.

A quest marker suddenly appeared above the Crystal Orb.

[You have discovered the Hidden Theme!]

[You have earned 5,000 Achievement Points!]

Hidden Theme discovered.

[Would you like to move to the Ruined City of Mages?]

It worked.

Alessandro had achieved great things in this place.

That meant Jeong-hoon would be able to gain a lot here as well.

"I'll move."

The moment Jeong-hoon accepted, his body was engulfed in a blue light and absorbed into the Crystal Orb.

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]