As I ascended the stairs, what I saw resembled the top of a clock tower in appearance.
Elaborate magic circles spread out like intertwining clock gears, moving organically and intricately. They were of such an extraordinary level that they could be called the essence of magic circles.
While these details hadn't stood out in the game, they did now.
I momentarily put aside my purpose for climbing and examined the magic circles.
'I can't even begin to replicate this.'
Aside from the drawing itself, it involved an incredible amount of calculation.
Just imagining the complexity was enough to give me a headache, but when I considered that Modras Alben had designed and constructed this alone, my respect for him surged.
After scrutinizing the magic circles, I finally turned my attention to the reward situated in the center of the room.
It was a structure that stood like a lectern, a transparent glass display case.
'The Tower's Key.'
I carefully opened the glass case and picked up the key-shaped item.
[Greed's Key]
[Given to the individual who first conquered the 30th floor of the 'Tower'.]
[Can be used within the 'Tower'.]
That was all the explanation there was.
But I was well aware of the purpose of this key and the rewards that came with it.
'They're increasing the Tower's rewards to two.'
A Tower within the palace.
A mysterious place that qualified individuals from the Mythical Era could only enter once.
It was the place where the essence of the Tower of Modras Alben resided, and rewards were granted based on the floors conquered.
'Actual items used by the gods of the Mythical Era drop here.'
Even though only one item was granted per person regardless of how high a floor they reached, this key's effect was to increase it to two. Just that alone made it an outrageously overpowered item.
As I held the key for a brief moment, the glass display case shaped like a lectern sank into the floor. Soon after, a huge mass of mana began to gather in its place, forming a hazy, indistinct figure.
'Modras Alben.'
To be precise, it was a spiritual entity.
Modras took on an indistinct form and then greeted me.
"Congratulations on reaching this far, student of Rodren Academy."
Since it wasn't like he was actually alive, I simply listened without offering any response.
"A reticent young man, I see. Well, your arrival here is fated, so allow me to tell you my story."
After that, he repeated his words, which I had heard over ten times already, explaining the reasons behind the establishment of the Tower of Modras and how he had willingly relinquished the key he obtained in the palace.
Contrary to the achievement, his demeanor was light, and after speaking for a while, he finally got to the words I had been waiting for.
"Now, the mana is gradually depleting. I will reveal myself to you, as you are the first and last person to see me."
As he finished speaking, Modras' spiritual form began to draw up mana.
"However, ending it like this would be boring. I'll test you a bit."
I had been waiting for him to say this for a while now.
I immediately drew my sword and charged.
"Haha, you're too hasty for someone so reticent!"
His manner of speaking, as if he were alive, continued to irritate me.
I swung my sword, but Modras, who had already moved to another location through spatial movement, gathered mana at his fingertips.
Dozens of mana arrows were fired in an instant.
Kwaaang!
I circled the outer edges of the room, dodging his attacks, and also unleashed my Wind Cutter.
The combination of Wind Cutter with Galakshur created a rapid projectile that sped toward Modras, but he casually teleported my attack away with a wave of his hand.
'Overwhelming.'
Perhaps he still wasn't showing his true strength and was just playing along.
After all, he was a warlock-class archmage
He gestured again, and in the blink of an eye, he switched positions with me and grabbed my neck.
"Now, what will you do..."
This was the moment I had been waiting for.
In an instant, my elongated shadow entangled Modras, and a sinister aura surged from behind him.
"Dark magic...?"
Pwoosh!
Modras seemed taken aback or surprised, his reaction was unclear, but he got stabbed by Nickel's sword.
Nickel had precisely thrust his sword into Modras's heart. To avoid injuring me, he didn't let the sword pierce through, just flipping Modras's heart the right way around.
"It's not over."
He wasn't a living being, just a spiritual entity.
Stabbing his heart wouldn't make him disappear.
Perhaps he couldn't help but be surprised as well. Modras's spiritual form that had been blurry became fainter than before.
'Maybe, for the first time, I can actually win.'
He was merely a spiritual entity, so he must be weaker than the real Modras.
Even so, the fact that he could use such high-level spatial magic with just a spiritual form was astonishing.
There was no time to rest.
I immediately dashed toward Nickel.
"Since my death, has the world changed so much? I can't fathom how a dark mage has become a student of Rodren Academy."
Modras continued to talk while casually evading attacks from Nickel and me. Despite his mockery, I couldn't tell if he was truly impressed. What was certain was that our recent attack with Nickel's sword had hit its mark. Modras's spiritual form was definitely fainter than before.
"Perhaps if I just drag this out, I can win."
Just to be sure, I needed to defeat him decisively.
Modras continued to evade our attacks using spatial movement. Then, from his side, a massive subspace emerged.
"Hmm?"
A giant arm burst forth from the subspace and swung at Modras.
Thwack!
The massive arm, summoned by only partially manifesting Ludo due to his immense size, had turned out to be a useful application.
After taking a hit from Ludo's fist, Modras quickly used magic to block the colossal sword Ludo swung at him, but right after, Timur emerged and roared, delivering a powerful blow.
Thunk!
"Cough."
Timur's sudden attack landed cleanly.
He might have seemed like he was swinging his sword carelessly, but he was an Aura Master who had flavored a whole era.
Hidden in the fist was a concentration of force that others couldn't see.
Compared to Nickel's precisely aimed strike, this attack had much greater damage. Modras tried to evade with spatial movement, but the room was already occupied by my undead.
"It's over."
As he tried to teleport to my side, I swung my sword.
As soon as Modras appeared due to the teleportation, my sword cleanly sliced through his neck and continued past.
Thunk.
"Huff, huff..."
Even with his head severed, Modras continued to speak.
"You let your guard down. Did you think you could hide your full power from me?"
I was somewhat impressed as well. I had defeated Modras's spiritual form, which I had never managed to defeat before. Comparing it to Louis and the other characters, it seemed like I had proven myself stronger.
"Normally, rewards are given to those who pass the trial. Even if you are a dark mage, I don't need to concern myself with your future actions."
Modras gradually dispersed, leaving behind a meaningful remark.
Was he implying that there would be an additional reward for this achievement?
"Please bring benefit to the world."
It was an unusual request to make to a dark mage, but I nodded silently.
Finally, Modras vanished.
[You have achieved the achievement: "Recognized by Modras."]
"Ah."
The achievement I had completely forgotten about obscured my vision. I hadn't expected such an achievement since I had never defeated Modras before. The unexpected reward made me even happier.
In addition to the achievement reward, something sparkling remained in the place where Modras had disappeared.
"What is this...?"
.
.
.
.
Whoosh.
A sword emitting a dazzling light cut through the air.
At that moment, the grotesque monster on the other side was split in half.
Slice!
As the monster fell, the Emperor, without showing any excitement, approached and was handed a towel by an attendant before sheathing his sword.
"It's boring."
As Emperor's words prompted the attendant to ponder his response, someone entered the room cautiously. The entering knight paid no attention to the grotesque monster that had been split in half; he carefully knelt on one knee.
"What's the matter?"
"Your Majesty, Duke Hector Kazaf has arrived."
"Let him in."
The knight immediately stood up and retreated outside.
Soon, Duke Kazaf entered, appearing relaxed.
"Greetings to His Majesty."
"You have arrived, Hector."
The Emperor sat down in the designated chair without even turning his head, speaking casually.
Even though he was addressing the chancellor, his demeanor was exceedingly arrogant, his gaze and actions brimming with conceit.
"Please share a story that will capture my interest."
"Your Majesty, news has arrived that Adrias Cromwell, son of Cain Cromwell, has conquered the 30th floor of Modras's Tower."
"I heard that you personally went to confirm it."
It was the emperor himself who put pressure on him to go and see the event. However, Duke Kazaf merely nodded in response.
"I apologize for the delay in gathering information. Based on the comprehensive information we have gathered so far, there is a significant likelihood that Adrias possesses the Original Sin."
"Original Sin can only be wielded by a dark mage. Are you saying that Adrias is a dark mage?"
"Based on the possibilities, yes. Frankly, the capabilities and performance of the Original Sin itself don't explain Adrias's explosive growth. In fact, the Original Sin is hardly more than an artifact with virtually no functionality by itself, so it seems separate from Adrias's growth."
"So why do you think there's a high probability that he possesses the Original Sin?"
"The timing of Adrias Cromwell suddenly using a sword coincides strangely with the time he purchased the mansion. In the case of the Original Sin, we are not fully aware of all its capabilities. If he gained the ability to simultaneously use a sword and magic due to some hidden ability, it would be a sufficient explanation."
"In the end, there's no certainty."
Even in the face of the Emperor's cold words, Duke Kazaf remained expressionless.
While observing Duke Kazaf, the Emperor smirked and pointed at the space opposite him.
"Why are you standing so uncomfortably? Please sit down."
As he delivered a superficial expression of gratitude, the Emperor motioned to Duke Kazaf, who took a seat.
"Regardless, it's not a bad situation. If that boy does possess the Original Sin, there's no need to go through the trouble of searching for it. We can let it be, thinking that we can always separate the wheat from the chaff when necessary."
"Your Majesty, it may sound impertinent, but Adrias has conquered the 30th floor, a feat even Maximen Chronel has failed to achieve. Just in case..."
"Hector Kazaf."
The Emperor spoke the name of Duke Kazaf with a smiling face, just quietly, as if whispering.
With just that one word, even the renowned Kazaf, who was known throughout the realm, felt his poker face crumble. Cold sweat began to bead around his temples.
"Why are you so scared of that little guy already? I didn't think of him so highly, but I might need to reassess."
"I apologize, Your Majesty."
It was a statement befitting the haughty Emperor.
Although Duke Kazaf was somewhat concerned by the Emperor's lofty arrogance, he managed to rationalize it to himself, thinking that the Emperor's words made sense in some ways.
'Yes, there's no need to worry too much since he can't escape anywhere.'
Furthermore, they could easily label Adrias as a dark mage, if need be, so the Emperor's side had nothing to lose. Even if he didn't possess the Original Sin.
"For now, it's a priority to find the other sins."
"Our intelligence agency is tirelessly searching, so we should be able to identify their whereabouts soon."
"Sir Hegel claims to have located a lead in the northern regions. Let's see who finds them first."
Comparing himself to a dark mage was humiliating, but Duke Kazaf merely nodded his head.
"I will make sure to discover them first, Your Majesty."