Chapter 5
The city of Jeron, the second-largest in the Altera Empire.
Dojin was walking through the heart of Jeron, a city also famous as the City of Magic.
At his waist hung a clean longsword, replacing the mace he had received as a basic reward. Separate from the tutorial rewards, it was a sword that Instructor Krueger from the Forest of Trials had practically forced upon him.
He had passionately declared that among all the people he had trained, Dojin showed the most promise and talent, insisting he had to become a swordsman and giving the sword as a gift.
『Gatekeeper's Sword』
『Grade: C
Equip Requirement: None
An ordinary iron sword issued to gatekeepers. It doesn't stand out in any particular way, but its quality is decent.
Attack Power: 12』
While checking the better stats compared to the tutorial reward, Dojin walked amidst a scene of wonder.
Carriages moved not by horses but by mana, and magical golems bustled about to promote various shops. A glance around revealed architecture built not through science but magic, dazzling the eyes.
New players stood around, frozen in awe at the sight of their first city. Some were even visibly lost and wandering around.
But to Dojin, who in a past life had been a mage, Jeron was a familiar place. That’s why he moved through the city without hesitation.
Following the optimal route, he passed through a shopping district selling necessary supplies and arrived at his destination for job advancement.
The Imperial Magic Tower Eltomagia, standing tall at the center of Jeron. A colossal structure that would be impressive even on modern Earth due to its sheer height.
But Dojin’s destination was not this tower. From the beginning, those without the right credentials weren’t even allowed to approach Eltomagia.
Turning his gaze from the towering structure, Dojin looked toward a one-story building tucked in a far corner. Compared to the majestic magic tower, it appeared endlessly shabby.
Its name: Imperial Magic Tower External Reception Office.
“…Welcome.”
As he opened the creaky door and stepped inside, a female mage sitting at the counter offered a half-hearted greeting.
Without even looking away from the paper she was reading, her tone was devoid of any sincerity.
Well, the building’s shoddy condition said enough, this place existed solely as a filter, meant to keep riffraff from entering the magic tower. The woman sitting there was undoubtedly one of the low-ranking mages, assigned on a rotating schedule.
‘No wonder everyone flocks to the academy instead.’
In fact, players like Dojin who chose to job-advance as mages through the Imperial Magic Tower had long become a rarity. Even if you presented a recommendation from the gate, they would only open your magic circuit as a formality, no support was provided.
On the other hand, the Empire Academy, now the hottest job advancement spot, granted player characters student status upon job change. This made you a magic major student, where you could take basic lectures and automatically acquire basic magic skills.
But Eltomagia didn’t even accept you as one of their own unless you practically begged for it, and even then, you’d be lucky to receive a single magic skill book.
Five months into the service of LOST, it was no surprise that this job advancement reception had become so deserted. No other mage job advancement site treated people worse than this place.
But that was because people didn’t understand the fundamental difference between the Academy and Eltomagia, a kind of misconception.
‘Eltomagia isn’t like the academy where everything is spoon-fed to you.’
The academy was fundamentally an educational institution. So, it systematically taught even basic magic. If you wanted, you could stay there and move on to intermediate and advanced courses too.
That’s the kind of place it was.
But Eltomagia? Its very purpose was completely different from that of the academy.
It was a collective of mages in pursuit of truth. Not a place to nurture talent, but one where only those deemed necessary by Eltomagia were selected to join its ranks.
‘It’s easier to change jobs elsewhere, but if you know how to find what you need yourself, nothing compares to Eltomagia.’
The academy was comfortable, things were handed to you. But if you could forage for knowledge on your own, this path offered much greater returns. And Dojin was confident he could exploit every benefit the Imperial Magic Tower had to offer.
Tap! Tap!
Finishing his thoughts, Dojin gently tapped the counter.
Only then did the female mage lift her head slightly. Even so, she kept glancing at her paper, proof she was a genuine mage, most likely.
After all, being eccentric was practically a prerequisite for being a mage.
“What can I help you with?”
What else? I’m here to change jobs, obviously.
Suppressing that retort, Dojin silently handed over the ‘Recommendation Letter’ he’d received as a reward from the gate.
“Hm.”
With a hint of reluctance, the female mage closed her paper and checked the letter.
“…This is definitely a mage recommendation letter, issued by the Adventurer’s Guild… Rank 10 Adventurer…”
Her eyes quickly scanned the details, but they stopped when she reached the word Gate. Coming through a gate meant he was a Regenian, someone from another world who had died and come back to hunt monsters.
Originally intending to quickly process and dismiss him, the woman changed her mind. If he came through a gate, a Regenian, then she ought to at least offer a little advice out of basic civic duty.
With the minimal sense of responsibility she had as a citizen of Rostania, she opened her mouth to say something she normally wouldn’t.
“Um… I probably shouldn’t say this since I’m affiliated with the Imperial Magic Tower, but… You’d be better off job-changing at the academy.”
Even as she spoke, her hands were rummaging through a pouch of pre-processed mana stones used for circuit activation.
She had a habit of keeping busy even while talking.
“Eltomagia doesn’t care at all unless someone can contribute to its magical development. It doesn’t matter if you came through a gate or whatever. On the other hand, with this recommendation, the academy would provide basic training and some support too. Wouldn’t that be better for you?”
She meant it as a kind warning, but Dojin couldn’t accept it. He had his own clear reason for advancing his class here.
“I’ll be fine.”
“…Well, I didn’t expect you to actually take my advice. Mages, myself included, are all absurdly stubborn.”
Sigh. Letting out a deep breath, she reached out her hand.
Dojin matched her motion, raising his right hand.
“You’ve heard how they open circuits, right?”
“At the gate.”
Dojin gave a vague reply, and the female mage placed a mana stone engraved with a magic circle in his palm. Then she chanted something softly and crushed the stone between her fingers.
The sharp mana released from the shattered stone cut into Dojin’s hand.
A stinging pain. Minor pain like this wasn’t mitigated unless specifically toggled off, so the sensation of fresh blood was vivid, but only for a moment.
Soon, a cool sensation surged through the inside of his hand, replacing the pain.
“All done.”
The circuit used for storing and activating 1-star spells was pierced with laughable ease.
『Dojin』
『Level: 8
Class: Mage
Strength: 7
Agility: 8
Stamina: 46
Intelligence: 6』
A new ‘Class’ field had appeared on his status window, displaying ‘Mage’.
While Dojin checked his status, the woman had already returned her gaze to her paper. Whether he was a Regenian or not, her job was done and she was finished.
‘So this is where it begins.’
But for Dojin, things were just getting started.
Tap! Tap!
Catching her attention again, Dojin asked with confidence, “I heard special recommendation candidates receive additional benefits.”
“Hmm…”
A vague noise escaped her lips as her brows furrowed.
“Not really… I haven’t heard anything about that. I’m not actually in charge here, but… I could probably give you one basic magic skillbook. I’m guessing that’s why those are stocked over there.”
She pointed to the side.
A shelf packed with 1-star magic skill books lined up by type. In fact, those were quite valuable. Once used, knowledge of the spell would be directly implanted, generating the skill.
“Shall I give you one of those? They’re real magic, not just printed text. If you wanted to buy one, it’d cost a fortune.”
“I don’t need a skill book. I’d like access to the library instead.”
“…….”
The woman froze.
She looked at Dojin with eyes that had turned slightly cold.
“What did you just say…?”
“I said I’d like to use the library.”
“Eltomagia doesn’t have a library. Most books are privately kept by individual mages.”
Feigning ignorance again, she tried to brush him off with sleepy eyes, but Dojin sealed the deal.
“The library I’m referring to is the Library of All Logic.”
The Library of All Logic, also called Archive of All Logic, was a treasure vault where Eltomagia had stored its magical knowledge over centuries.
“…If that’s a joke, it’s gone too far. That library is off-limits except to mages of at least 7-star rank, or in color ranks, Blue Rank or higher. Someone like you, who just became a mage, wouldn’t even be allowed near it. It’s a restricted zone.”
In Eltomagia, mages were ranked by the colors of the rainbow symbolizing the path to truth: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, and black.
Anyone who reached Blue was qualified enough to be the tower master of an outer magic tower. Even for those mages, access to the Library of All Logic was only partially granted.
For someone who had just advanced into mage class to demand entry, it was an absurd notion, even for a Regenian.
For the woman, who dreamed of one day reaching Blue Rank and stepping foot inside that library, it was a deeply offensive notion.
‘Damn novels always talk about the Library of All Logic, and now idiots like this think they can just waltz in.’
Smack!
She angrily reopened her paper and dropped her gaze. Her gesture clearly said: You no longer exist to me.
Even the faint sliver of politeness from earlier was gone. But Dojin wasn’t shaken by her coldness. Instead, he confidently pointed at her communication bracelet and said,
“You probably haven’t been given proper instructions, but I suggest you ask someone who’d know. The contract signed between Eltomagia and the Adventurer’s Guild does state that special recommendation candidates are to receive ‘one benefit’. It’s clearly written in the contract personally authored by Eltomagia’s most esteemed figure.”
“You really…!”
To mention the one and only Black Rank of Eltomagia so casually?
The woman was beyond exasperated, she was angry. And yet, she couldn’t throw this man out.
All who came through the gate were officially recognized as special recommendation candidates. The relationship between Eltomagia’s tower master and the Adventurer’s Guild was so well-known, even children’s books told the tale. Maybe because such a big name was involved, she couldn’t easily dismiss him.
‘If, by the slimmest chance… what he’s saying is true…’
A complaint from the guild would be catastrophic. If she made a mistake here, the punishment she’d face wouldn’t just be a scolding. Eyes trembling, she fiddled with her bracelet, deep in thought.
‘Fine. I’ll just ask. If I’m wrong, it’s his fault. Besides… I am a little curious.’
Having made up her mind, she locked eyes with Dojin.
“It’s idiotic, but I’ll ask. But if you’re lying, you’d better be ready. That person isn’t someone you joke about, even in passing. Not even if you’re a Regenian.”
Dojin nodded with a calm smile.
There wasn’t a trace of doubt on his face. No, it was filled with confidence.
Because—
『Quest』
『The Chamber of Greedy Truth
Grade: Hidden
Only high-ranking mages of Eltomagia may access its secret library.
However, in extremely rare cases, even outsiders may be allowed entry.
If you can find a way to visit that place, you might glimpse the shards of truth they’ve hoarded with such greed.
Objective: Enter the Library of All Logic without being an official Eltomagia mage
Reward: ???』
The message he had been waiting for had just appeared.