The quiet room remained illuminated only by the pale blue glow of magical lamps embedded into the walls.
Soft snow-like mana particles drifted lazily through the air.
The room itself barely looked like the private chamber of a Mage Lord.
Instead…
It looked more like a shrine dedicated to a single person.
Will figures lined entire shelves from wall to wall.
Small ones.
Battle versions.
Academy uniform versions.
Limited-edition handcrafted figures.
Even several life-sized dolls rested near the corners of the room while an embarrassing number of body pillows surrounded the enormous bed positioned at the center.
And buried somewhere beneath all those pillows…
Luna White slept peacefully.
The feared Ice Princess of Aetherion.
One of the Five Mage Lords.
A woman capable of freezing entire battlefields within seconds.
At the moment however…
She looked more like a spoiled child.
Her silky white hair spread messily across the bed while both arms tightly hugged a large Will body pillow against her chest. The transparent nightgown she wore barely hid anything at all, the thin fabric clinging shamelessly against her soft curves beneath the dim blue lighting.
One smooth pale leg remained completely exposed outside the blanket while the loose straps hanging around her shoulders looked moments away from slipping entirely.
Yet despite her appearance…
The expression on her sleeping face looked strangely innocent.
Comfortable.
Dependent.
As if simply hugging that pillow allowed her to sleep peacefully.
The door slowly opened.
Cecilia Frostvale entered quietly before immediately sighing after seeing the scene in front of her.
"…Again."
Her blue eyes slowly scanned the room filled with Will merchandise.
At this point she had long stopped questioning it.
Walking beside the bed, Cecilia gently shook Luna's shoulder.
"My Lady."
No response.
"Luna."
Still nothing.
Instead, Luna only hugged the body pillow tighter.
Cecilia sighed again.
"The King of the Mage Lords has summoned everyone."
At those words, Luna's eyelashes twitched slightly before she slowly opened her sleepy blue eyes.
"…Five more minutes…"
"You said that twenty minutes ago."
Luna slowly sat up while rubbing her eyes lazily.
The already revealing nightgown slipped even lower in the process.
Cecilia immediately looked away with a tired expression.
"My Lady… please wear something more proper."
"I don't want to…"
Her sleepy voice sounded unusually childish.
"It's hot."
"That barely qualifies as clothing."
Luna looked down at herself before tilting her head slightly.
"…Looks fine to me."
"It absolutely does not."
Cecilia pinched the bridge of her nose.
"The King specifically summoned all Mage Lords. You cannot appear dressed like that."
Luna immediately laid back down again while hugging the pillow tighter.
"I don't wanna go…"
"You have to."
"Can I go like this?"
"Absolutely not."
Luna pouted slightly.
"…You're mean."
Ignoring the complaint, Cecilia opened the wardrobe herself.
"As your secretary, preventing disasters before they happen is part of my duty."
"…You exaggerate too much."
"No. I really don't."
Several minutes later…
Luna silently walked through the elegant halls of the Floating City while Cecilia followed beside her.
The white-haired Mage Lord now wore a far more proper outfit, though "proper" by noble standards still remained dangerously eye-catching.
The elegant white-and-blue dress tightly hugged her figure while exposing smooth skin around her shoulders and upper chest through an open neckline decorated with silver snowflake embroidery. The fitted waist emphasized her slender curves while the short layered skirt revealed long pale legs wrapped in black thigh-high stockings held by silver garters hidden beneath the fabric.
Every step naturally drew attention.
Beside her, Cecilia herself looked equally stunning.
Her dark-blue secretary uniform combined elegance with subtle temptation. The fitted black skirt highlighted her long legs while the white blouse beneath her navy jacket remained slightly too tight around her chest. Thin silver-framed glasses only enhanced her mature beauty further.
As they walked, Cecilia continued lecturing her quietly.
"Please act properly once we enter."
"Mhm."
"And stop ignoring official matters."
"Mhm."
"And please avoid provoking Lady Lyra this time."
"…Mhm."
Cecilia narrowed her eyes slightly.
"You aren't listening at all, are you?"
Luna blinked innocently.
"…I am."
In reality, her thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.
I wonder what Will is doing right now…
Did he wake up already?
Maybe I should visit him later…
As they approached the massive doors leading toward the meeting chamber, another figure suddenly appeared before them.
A tall elf woman with long emerald-green hair leaned casually against the wall with crossed arms.
Lyra Evergreen.
Unlike Luna's cold beauty, Lyra possessed a mature seductive elegance unique to elves. Her dark green dress exposed one smooth shoulder entirely while the slit running along her thigh revealed long elegant legs beneath shimmering fabric. Golden jewelry decorated her neck and waist while the open sides of the dress subtly exposed pale skin around her hips.
Her emerald eyes narrowed playfully.
"My, my… what was the Ice Princess doing this morning?"
Luna looked at her lazily.
"Still upset about losing?"
A visible twitch appeared on Lyra's face.
"That match was practically even."
"You lost."
"It was a minor miscalculation."
"Mhm."
Lyra narrowed her eyes further.
"…I hate that response."
Before either woman could continue, another voice interrupted.
"Why are you two barking like dogs this early in the morning?"
Kai Stormwing walked toward them while stretching his shoulders casually.
Tall.
Broad.
Confident.
His sharp yellow eyes carried constant arrogance while his sleeveless black combat coat exposed heavily trained muscles beneath the fabric. Unlike elegant mages, Kai looked more like a warrior prepared to punch lightning itself.
Both women immediately glared at him.
"Shut up, muscle brain."
Kai smirked.
"See? Barking again."
The atmosphere immediately became tense.
Before things escalated further, Cecilia stepped forward calmly.
"Please save your arguments for later."
Her eyes moved toward the meeting room doors.
"The King is waiting."
The three Mage Lords instantly quieted.
Without another word, they entered the chamber together.
Cecilia remained outside.
Inside the meeting room, Edward Blackthorne was already seated quietly near the far side of the table.
The Flame Mage Lord lazily rested his chin against one hand while slowly spinning a black artifact between his fingers. The faint smirk on his face made him look less like a respected professor and more like a dangerous mastermind secretly controlling events behind the scenes.
Luna silently sat down first.
Immediately after sitting, her thoughts drifted away once again.
I wonder if Will already ate something…
Maybe I should secretly visit him tonight…
Beside her, Lyra elegantly crossed her long legs before looking away with a small huff.
Although she maintained perfect noble composure…
Anyone paying attention could tell she was still irritated about losing to Luna.
Kai meanwhile leaned back confidently in his chair while resting one arm against the table like he owned the room itself. The Thunder Mage Lord radiated overwhelming confidence naturally, his expression practically screaming that he considered himself the strongest person present.
Edward simply glanced toward them with amusement.
"What a peaceful gathering."
Then—
A sudden chill spread throughout the room.
The atmosphere instantly changed.
The air itself became heavier.
Silence swallowed the chamber.
Even Kai unconsciously straightened slightly.
The massive doors slowly opened.
Arthur Dawnstar entered.
The moment he stepped inside…
The room itself felt smaller.
His overwhelming presence alone completely dominated the chamber.
Long white hair flowed behind him while ancient burn scars crossed his weathered skin like marks left behind by countless battlefields. His crimson eyes radiated terrifying authority while the pressure surrounding him resembled a sleeping volcano moments away from erupting.
Each step felt heavy.
Absolute.
Like the footsteps of a monster standing at the very peak of the world.
Even the mana within the room itself trembled slightly around him.
No one spoke.
No one dared to.
The King of the Mage Lords slowly walked toward the head seat before calmly sitting down.
Only after several seconds passed did he finally speak.
"The monster population near several Towers has increased again."
Instantly, the atmosphere became serious.
Arthur continued calmly.
"At the same time, preparations for the fiftieth-floor expedition have been completed."
Edward narrowed his eyes slightly.
"So we're finally confirming whether the Tower actually ends there."
"No."
Arthur's voice remained calm.
"We are confirming whether it continues beyond it."
Silence filled the room again.
Even Kai lost part of his relaxed expression.
Arthur continued.
"The expedition begins within several days."
Then his eyes slowly moved toward Luna.
"And Lady Luna White."
Luna immediately felt danger.
"You have neglected your duties recently."
The room became colder.
Luna frowned slightly.
"…I've still completed my responsibilities."
"Barely."
Arthur's gaze sharpened.
"Your faction will participate in this operation."
Luna immediately responded.
"I refuse."
For the first time, visible pressure exploded inside the room.
The air itself felt heavy.
Arthur stared directly at her.
Luna glared back stubbornly.
Several seconds passed in complete silence.
Then—
"…Fine."
Luna looked away first.
Kai quietly smirked.
Even Lyra looked slightly surprised.
Arthur ignored their reactions entirely.
"Preparation details will be distributed shortly."
Edward lazily raised his hand.
"Which Towers are we handling?"
"The First Tower will remain under my supervision."
Arthur continued calmly.
"Luna White will oversee the Second Tower."
"Kai Stormwing will handle the Third."
His eyes shifted briefly.
"Edward Blackthorne and Lyra Evergreen will remain on standby."
Kai grinned slightly.
"Sounds fun."
Edward leaned forward slightly.
"And who exactly is guiding the expedition?"
Arthur answered without hesitation.
"Three dwarves from the Swordsman Clan."
The room remained calm.
No one looked surprised.
The Swordsman Clan had guided Tower expeditions for generations. Their instincts inside Towers bordered on supernatural.
"One guide for each Tower," Arthur continued. "As always."
Even among prejudiced nobles, dwarven guides remained indispensable inside Towers due to their unnatural instincts for sensing danger.
Arthur finally closed the meeting.
"Prepare yourselves."
—
Far beneath the Floating City…
Inside the academy medical ward…
Will slowly opened his eyes.
A dull headache pounded inside his skull.
Memories mixed together chaotically.
Emotions.
Experiences.
Two lives overlapping endlessly inside his mind.
For several moments, he simply remained still while trying to organize his thoughts.
Then suddenly—
"…Status."
A translucent blue panel instantly appeared before him.
Will's eyes widened.
"No way…"
His heart started pounding.
A fantasy world.
Magic.
A system.
This was real.
An excited grin slowly spread across his face.
His dream had actually come true.
Before he could fully process it however, the medical room door opened.
An incredibly beautiful elf woman entered.
Will froze slightly.
Even though he possessed Will's memories, seeing a real elf personally still felt surreal.
Lilia Evergreen approached calmly before placing a hand against his forehead.
"You seem strangely excited for someone who nearly died."
Will awkwardly coughed.
"…Sorry."
Lilia sighed softly.
"Do you know how difficult treating you was?"
Her tone sounded half annoyed and half exhausted.
"I nearly collapsed after restoring your mana pathways."
She continued checking his condition carefully.
"You were lucky this time."
Her golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"Next time you may not survive long enough for me to heal you."
Will could only nod awkwardly.
After confirming his condition stabilized, Lilia finally left the room.
Several minutes later—
The door burst open again.
"Will!"
Adrian immediately rushed toward him before hugging him tightly enough to nearly crush his ribs.
Will instantly choked.
"C-can't breathe—"
Adrian quickly released him while looking genuinely emotional.
"You idiot! Why would you do something so reckless?!"
Will scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"…Sorry."
"You didn't think about your friends at all."
"…Sorry."
Adrian sighed heavily before finally calming down.
After some small conversation, Adrian suddenly stood up.
"I'll be leaving for my hometown for a while."
Will blinked.
"Hometown?"
Adrian sighed dramatically.
"Some grumpy old man called me back."
Will laughed slightly.
"Good luck then."
"I'll need it."
After Adrian left, silence returned once more.
Several hours later…
Will finally began trying mana cultivation properly for the first time.
He slowly focused—
Only for footsteps to interrupt him.
The door opened gently.
Elena Hart entered the room.
Will immediately froze.
The noble academy uniform looked even more dangerous in person.
The fitted black-and-red outfit exposed smooth skin around her waist and stomach while the open front beneath the red neck ribbon subtly emphasized her chest. The shorter noble skirt revealed long fair legs wrapped in elegant black knee-high socks while the high-quality fabric hugged her figure far more attractively than commoner uniforms.
Combined with her soft brown hair and embarrassed expression…
She looked unbelievably beautiful.
Elena tilted her head slightly.
"…What's wrong?"
Will answered honestly before thinking.
"You look really beautiful today."
Elena instantly froze.
A faint blush spread across her face.
"T-thank you…"
She immediately changed the subject.
"How are you feeling? I was really worried about you…"
Guilt slightly appeared on Will's face.
"…Sorry."
As he tried standing up—
Sharp pain shot through his leg.
"Ah—"
His balance collapsed instantly.
Elena quickly rushed forward to support him.
Unfortunately—
Both of them fell together.
Will landed directly on top of her.
For several seconds…
Neither moved.
Their faces remained dangerously close.
Elena's entire face turned bright red.
Will himself froze completely.
Then suddenly—
"W-Wait—!"
Elena panicked and shoved him away immediately before quickly standing up.
Will groaned slightly from the impact.
Realizing she accidentally hurt him, Elena looked horrified.
"S-sorry!"
Without waiting for another response, she hurriedly escaped the room entirely.
Leaving Will staring blankly toward the ceiling.
"…What just happened?"
—
Far away inside the Floating City's entertainment district…
A tavern door slowly opened.
Conversation instantly paused.
Serena Blackthorne entered.
And nearly every man's eyes inside the tavern immediately followed her.
Her outfit looked less like proper clothing and more like a calculated attack against human self-control.
Black fabric tightly wrapped around her chest while leaving the center dangerously exposed through a deep open neckline. The sides revealed smooth skin beneath her chest while the outfit completely exposed her back down to her waist.
The lower portion hugged her hips shamelessly before splitting high along one side, revealing long seductive legs beneath the fabric. Golden chains decorated her exposed stomach while the open design intentionally drew attention toward her navel and curves with every step she took.
She smiled lazily while walking through the tavern like she owned the place.
Several men visibly straightened their posture immediately.
Others looked away nervously.
Serena ignored all of them.
Instead, she approached an old man quietly drinking alone in the corner.
Leaning slightly forward over the table, she smiled teasingly.
"My~ inviting me personally this late at night?"
Arthur Dawnstar looked annoyed already.
"You're late."
Serena laughed softly before sitting down.
Arthur casually activated a utility silence spell.
The surrounding noise instantly disappeared.
Serena crossed her long legs slowly.
"So what does the great King of the Mage Lords want from an insignificant mercenary like me?"
Arthur narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You've always been annoying."
"Yet you keep calling me."
With a small motion, Arthur opened his storage ring.
A file appeared on the table.
Serena picked it up curiously.
"…What's this?"
"A few days ago, an abnormal magical spike was detected inside Eclipse Tower."
Serena's playful smile faded slightly.
Arthur continued.
"I want you to investigate it."
She raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not a fighter like you old monsters."
"I'm not asking you to investigate inside the Tower."
Arthur leaned back slightly.
"I want you to investigate outside."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"Black markets. Underground organizations. Illegal artifact movement. Anything connected to unusual activity."
Serena quietly observed him.
"You think the answer isn't inside the Tower."
Arthur remained silent for several seconds.
"…Correct."
Serena smirked slightly.
"And what do I get in return?"
Arthur already knew the answer.
"The usual."
Annoyed, he tossed another storage ring toward her.
Serena caught it effortlessly before smiling brightly.
"Pleasure doing business with you, old man."
Arthur stood up without another word before leaving the tavern entirely.
Several moments later, Serena lazily leaned back in her seat while enjoying her drink.
The playful smile on her face slowly disappeared.
"…Interesting."