Chapter 7

Chapter 6 of the Life of a Former Ranker as a Newbie (7/271)

6

The small ball that Dojin threw spread throughout the entire imperial magic tower in an instant.

This was thanks to the junior mages' tireless efforts to snatch any bit of information and present it to their superiors.

"What? A guy from the Adventurer's Guild brought the Ten Thousand Mile Letter?"

"What? That guy is a Regenian? So he must have crossed the gateway?"

"What? He mentioned 'That Person'?"

"What? There was an agreement between the Adventurer's Guild and 'That Person'?"

Upon receiving the report, the mages of higher rank immediately stopped what they were doing and rushed out.

Mages, by nature, are willing to risk not only their own lives but also the lives of others out of curiosity.

Especially, the term 'Black Rank' is like a trigger for the mages of Eltomagia.

From their perspective, no matter who said it, if a word like 'black' or 'blackish' came up, they had to verify it.

And most importantly,

"Hmm, I'm very busy, but to maintain a good relationship with the Adventurer's Guild, it's necessary to accurately confirm and respond to such important matters. To do that, I have no choice but to go to the top floor and ask 'That Person' directly... I have no choice but to go to the top floor."

The mages saw this as an opportunity to visit the top floor of the tower.

An opportunity to experience the independent dimensional magic of the Black Rank, which eventually forces those who are not permitted to wander and leave the tower.

"Hehe, you're so busy these days. I heard you're conducting experiments that greatly contribute to the advancement of magic. I'll handle this trivial matter, so you can focus on your work. I'll take care of it, so you don't have to worry."

"Seniors, what are you saying? It's only right that the juniors handle such matters. Please focus on preparing for the upcoming Magic Society meeting. I'll handle this matter."

Naturally, the eyes of the Eltomagia mages who heard this news were wide with shock.

"This guy? Hey, what's your color?"

"Why is color coming up here?"

"In Eltomagia, what else but color would come up!"

In the end, the mages ended up grabbing each other's hair and fighting over who would go to the top floor.

* * *

While the mages were abandoning their dignity and fighting over who would go to the top floor,

Dojin was facing a black cat that had suddenly appeared.

"Curious about who was tickling my ears, I came to see, and it turned out to be a child from another world."

The black cat smirked at the stiffened Dojin and the junior mage.

"What are you looking at? It's a predictable flow. This is Zion."

The Black Rank, the pinnacle of Eltomagia, one of the five Grand Masters on the continent.

The Grand Mage Zion Grace.

She had appeared in the form of a black cat, her symbol.

"How did you know about the 'promise'? There shouldn't be many who know about it now, especially not in the current Adventurer's Guild."

At Zion's sudden question, Dojin took a deep breath.

'...I didn't expect Zion to appear here.'

Originally, an NPC of Zion's level should only appear much later.

It seemed something had gone awry because he had used a hidden piece, which was supposed to be discovered after several quests related to Eltomagia and five years had passed, too quickly.

However, just because things had gone awry didn't mean the current situation was bad for Dojin.

'Encountering such a big shot is itself a hidden piece.'

Zion Grace was a significant figure whose mere presence was meaningful.

It would be a waste to let such an opportunity pass by with just a nod.

Dojin pulled out the information about Zion from his future knowledge.

He thought he could use this situation more effectively if he used it well.

'The bait that can be used immediately and will definitely catch Zion Grace's attention is...'

He didn't need to think long about the future developments.

The first thing that came to mind when thinking of Zion Grace was the episode about her old companion who disappeared into the dimensional boundary.

Fortunately, the place where Zion's companion disappeared was related to users, i.e., Regenians.

"I am a Regenian."

"I know. Stranger, who has not been granted death."

"That means I crossed the gateway."

"There's no need to keep mentioning what you know."

Dojin shook his head.

"It's necessary. I met your old companion while crossing over."

"......!"

The cat's eyes widened.

Its movements stopped.

Perhaps even its heartbeat.

Despite being a Grand Mage, she couldn't hide her reaction of disbelief.

Before Zion could recover from her shock, Dojin continued.

"To be precise, I only heard whispers. I forgot most of it during the crossing, and what remains is that the person was your companion and that a Regenian like me can request special privileges from Eltomagia. And—"

"Wait."

Zion interrupted Dojin.

Narrowing her cat eyes sharply, she asked,

"That happened before I made the agreement with the Adventurer's Guild. Did that person tell you this?"

An enormous amount of mana surged from the small cat's body.

No matter how strong Dojin was as a Regenian, his opponent was a Grand Mage.

She could bind a Regenian's soul to limit their respawn location, meaning he could be subject to countless respawns.

However, Dojin wasn't afraid even as the enormous mana visibly swirled around her.

He had anticipated this level of suspicion and was prepared for it.

"—And."

Dojin continued where he left off.

Zion's eyes became even sharper.

But at his next words,

"I remember a message for you."

Her eyes lost their sharpness.

"What...? That person left a message for me?"

Seeing Zion's sad eyes, Dojin felt a moment of guilt.

But he quickly composed himself.

'...At least this part isn't a lie.'

In the previous life, the feelings of Zion's companion, whom she never met again, were genuine.

It wasn't a terrible thing to relay those feelings now.

"That person said they wanted you to know that your voice can still be heard there. The stories you tell keep them from losing themselves."

"......!"

Zion's body trembled.

She felt as if she were being crushed by longing and guilt.

The endless ramblings she had been pouring out at the edge of the dimensional boundary, which were more like a diary, were not expected to reach anyone.

But the words had been relayed.

"It's a relief."

Muttering in a dazed voice, Zion stared at the air for a while.

Then, she quietly asked Dojin,

"Is there anything else you remember? Any message, no matter how small."

Dojin relayed the last words of Zion Grace's companion, which he remembered.

"Thank you."

The cat's breath.

"I'm sorry."

Stopped again.

Zion thought.

It was truly a miraculous thing.

The longing, the resentment, the blame, the guilt...

All the emotions she had felt over the long years melted away in just two words.

Zion found it incredibly miraculous.

'I need to go back.'

If she stayed any longer, she might embarrass herself in front of the young ones.

And most importantly,

She wanted to recall the face she had been trying not to think about for a long time and immerse herself in old memories.

But there was something she needed to take care of first.

'I need to deal with this stranger.'

Although it hadn't been long since they started bringing humans from other worlds as mercenaries, many Regenians had already crossed over.

This was the first time she had encountered one.

It might have been a necessary choice, but...

'Still, he must have shown some potential for them to choose him. What kind of person is he?'

Thinking this, Zion touched the air with her paw.

A high-quality wooden ring appeared and flew to Dojin.

"Any door, when opened with this ring, will lead to the Ten Thousand Mile Library, but only once."

"Thank you."

"It's nothing. It's been a while since I've heard good news. This is the least I can do."

Saying this, Zion smiled slightly and disappeared.

The Grand Mage's exit was as swift as her entrance.

At that moment, a new message appeared before Dojin's eyes.

Forming a relationship with a major NPC.

This alone significantly increased the range of quests he could undertake, a meaningful gain.

And to top it off, Zion's favor increased by 10 points.

This was a high enough score to require completing major episodes of Zion-related quests to achieve.

Of course, since Zion Grace would remain in seclusion for a long time, the immediate benefits were limited.

'But things will be different when characters of Zion's level start appearing.'

It wasn't just for today. Considering the future benefits, it was a highly encouraging outcome.

Dojin smiled contentedly as he looked at the ring on his palm.

"Excuse me!"

At that moment, the urgent voice of the junior mage, who had been reduced to a non-entity, reached his ears.

He had forgotten she was there and thought, 'Oh, she's here too,' as he turned around.

* * *

The junior mage had forgotten to breathe at the sudden turn of events.

The sensation of the mana that made up the world suddenly settling as the cat appeared was a thrilling experience for a mage.

It was enough to give her a glimpse of enlightenment, a step closer to a higher realm.

So she was certain.

That black cat was Zion Grace.

The beginning and end of the imperial magic tower Eltomagia, the one whom all mages, including herself, admired and aspired to be.

The mage perked up her ears.

To catch every word spoken here, no matter how trivial.

Unfortunately, she couldn't hear the conversation.

She couldn't even read the lips of the man named Dojin.

The mage knew this was due to the perception-blocking magic that Zion Grace naturally carried.

She marveled at the high-level magic that was as natural as breathing.

But the curiosity was suffocating.

'What are they talking about?'

What could they be discussing that a newly minted mage was having such a serious conversation with her?

She was curious. So curious it was driving her mad.

'That...!'

Her curiosity peaked when Dojin was given a wooden ring.

She didn't know what they had discussed,

But one thing was certain.

'That Regenian must be someone special.'

Definitely someone with a connection to Zion Grace.

The mage took out the recommendation letter she had put away in a drawer and confirmed the man's name again.

'Dojin.'

A Regenian who seemed to have a connection with Zion Grace.

'I can't let him slip away.'

The mage's eyes, which had been gleaming, fixed on Dojin.

"Excuse me!"

* * *

"Why?"

"Was that black cat... Zion Grace...?"

Dojin wondered if she hadn't heard the conversation, but he answered anyway.

But why was she breathing so heavily? Why was she gnawing on her lips so fiercely?

Dojin couldn't help but take a step back.

He felt he needed to get out of there quickly.

'After all, there's not a single normal mage among them.'

While thinking this, Dojin tried to escape as quickly as possible.

He didn't want to stay any longer and risk catching the mages' peculiar obsession.

Just as he was about to turn the doorknob,

Pabak.

A loud noise came from behind.

Turning around, he saw the mage, who had been sitting a moment ago, leap over the table as if possessed.

The momentum was so intense and bizarre that Dojin almost screamed.

"Do you need a magic skill book? I have some debts to pay, so I can only give you one, but I can give you one. So, can we start with an introduction?"

The mage, almost clinging to Dojin, spat out a series of questions that sounded more like threats.

He wanted to refuse the 1-star magic skill book and run away,

But a different answer came out of his mouth.

"Please, 'Telekinesis.'"

He had received 300 gold as a reward for crossing the gateway, and a 1-star magic skill book cost at least 150 gold.

To save money, he should buy a regular magic book and learn from it, but that would take a whole day and wasn't very efficient.

So, he should accept the offer.

It wasn't because he was intimidated by her intense gaze.

In any case, Dojin received the skill book, and the mage, who had calmed down a bit, introduced herself.

"I am the Yellow Rank of the greatest magic tower, Eltomagia. My name is Cisara Omen."

But then,

'Cisara Omen...? Wait, Omen...?'

She was Cisara Omen, the future master craftsman of magic and the owner of Omen's Magic Workshop.

Forming a relationship and increasing the favor of a named character.

The hidden piece 'Ten Thousand Mile Library Entrance Ticket' to boost his growth.

That alone was already sweet.

But to find out that the junior mage, extra, and possessed person he thought she was, was actually the real Cisara Omen, the owner of Omen's Magic Workshop.

It was too sweet.

It was so sweet that he might get diabetes.

But if it was this kind of diabetes, Dojin would be willing to get it a thousand times.

Whether she was crazy or not, if she was useful and profitable, that was enough.

"My name is Dojin."

Dojin extended his hand to the money source, no, to Cisara Omen.