Former Ranker's Newbie Life-Chapter 5

The second-largest city in the Altera Empire was Zeron, a place also renowned as the “City of Magic.” Do-Jin found himself walking through its bustling streets with a sleek longsword hanging from his hip in place of the mace he’d been rewarded with during the tutorial. This sword wasn’t part of the official tutorial rewards; it was something Kruger, the instructor from the Forest of Trials, had practically forced on him.

Calling Do-Jin the most talented and promising individual he’d ever trained, Kruger had gone on a rather passionate rant before pressing the sword into his hands, insisting that he absolutely had to become a swordsman.

[Gatekeeper’s Sword]

Grade: C

Requirement: None

A standard iron sword issued to gatekeepers. While it lacks any special features, it’s made of good-quality iron.

Attack Damage: 12

Do-Jin glanced at the sword’s stats and confirmed that it was better than his tutorial rewards. He nodded in satisfaction as he continued through Zeron, where an extraordinary scene unfolded around him.

Magic carriages powered by mana glided through the streets, and magic golems bustled about promoting various shops. Everywhere he looked, his eyes were met with architectural marvels built by magic rather than science. The designs were almost dizzying in their brilliance.

New players exploring the city for the first time stood frozen in awe, gazing at their surroundings with slack-jawed wonder. Others wandered aimlessly, clearly lost in the sprawling streets.

But for Do-Jin, who had been a mage in his past life, Zeron felt incredibly familiar. It was no surprise, then, that his steps through the city showed no hesitation. Navigating with optimal efficiency, he passed through the market district to gather the necessary supplies before arriving at his destination for class advancement.

At the heart of Zeron stood the Imperial Magic Tower, Elthomagia. Its monumental presence was beyond anything conceivable, even in the modern world. The sheer grandeur of it was breathtaking. But Do-Jin’s destination wasn’t this iconic tower. After all, access to Elthomagia was strictly restricted to those who had earned the right to enter.

Turning his gaze from the tower that loomed impossibly high above, Do-Jin looked toward a modest, one-story building tucked away in a far corner. Compared to the lofty Magic Tower, the structure seemed downright shabby.

This humble building housed the Imperial Magic Tower Branch Office. As Do-Jin stepped through the creaky doors, he was greeted by a woman sitting at the counter.

“Welcome...”

Her eyes didn’t leave the academic paper she was reading, and her halfhearted tone made it unclear whether she was inviting him in or merely stating his presence.

Of course, this reception office existed for a clear purpose. It was essentially a filter set up outside the Magic Tower to keep the unworthy from getting in. The modest state of the building itself made that obvious. Judging by her disinterest, the woman was probably just another low-ranking mage, assigned to this dreary duty on a rotating schedule.

No wonder everyone flocks to the Academy instead, Do-Jin thought.

In truth, players choosing to advance as mages through the Imperial Magic Tower had become a rarity. Even presenting a Letter of Recommendation from the Gate didn’t grant any special privileges here. They were only obligated to open the player's Magic Circuits. Beyond that, there was no additional training, no support, and certainly no guidance.

In contrast, the Imperial Academy—currently the most popular advancement location—provided players with immediate status as a student upon class change. This came with access to foundational lectures and automatic acquisition of basic magic skills. Meanwhile, Elthomagia offered nothing more than the chance to beg for a spellbook, if players were lucky.

It wasn’t hard to see why the Magic Tower’s reputation had taken such a hit. While the Academy offered players a structured and supportive environment, the Tower’s elitist approach made it clear they were doing them a favor by even acknowledging their presence.

By the fifth month since LOST launched, this branch office was practically deserted. It was understandable, given that no other place offering mage advancement treated players as poorly as this one.

However, the branch office’s poor reputation stemmed from a misunderstanding about the fundamental differences between the Academy and Elthomagia.

Elthomagia isn’t a place that spoon-feeds you like the Academy, Do-Jin thought.

The Academy was, at its core, an institution designed for education. Naturally, it provided systematic training in basic magic. Students could also choose to remain there to pursue intermediate and advanced courses. After all, that was its purpose.

Elthomagia had a goal entirely different from that of the Academy. This was a collective of mages devoted to the pursuit of truth. It wasn’t a place designed to nurture talent. As such, they only accepted those deemed essential to Elthomagia’s goals as its members.

Sure, it’s easier to advance elsewhere, but if you’re capable of finding your own way, nothing compares to Elthomagia.

And Do-Jin was confident he could wring every possible benefit from the Imperial Magic Tower.

Tap, tap.

Breaking from his thoughts, Do-Jin lightly tapped on the counter.

Only then did the female mage look up, though she kept sneaking glances at the paper she’d been reading. Although her behavior seemed strange, it was the sort of quirk he’d come to expect from mages.

“What do you need?” she asked flatly.

Do-Jin held back a sigh. What else would I be here for?

He silently answered her question by presenting the “Letter of Recommendation” he’d received at the Gate.

“Hmm.” With visible reluctance, the mage set her paper aside and examined the letter. “It’s definitely a mage Letter of Recommendation, issued by the Adventurers’ Guild... a Rank 10 Adventurer...”

Her eyes skimmed quickly over the details until they hovered over the word “Gate.”

This meant only one thing: the person standing before her was a Regenian. In other words, he was a hunter from another world who could die and resurrect repeatedly, slaying monsters in the process.

At first, she had planned to process him quickly and send him on his way, but she was now reconsidering. If he was a Regenian, she supposed offering a bit of advice was in order. A faint sense of duty as a Lostanian drew out words she normally wouldn’t even bother to speak.

“Look,” she began hesitantly, “I know I’m technically part of the Imperial Magic Tower, but... honestly, you’d be better off advancing at the Academy.”

Even as she spoke, her hands busily sorted through a set of pre-prepared mana stones for opening circuits. Her efficiency was clearly second nature.

“Elthomagia doesn’t care about anyone unless they can contribute to its magical advancements. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Regenian or whatever. On the other hand, with this Letter of Recommendation, the Academy will provide you with basic education and some additional support. Wouldn’t that be a better option for you?”

Her advice was well-meant, but Do-Jin had no intention of taking it. He had his own compelling reasons for advancing here.

“I’ll pass,” he replied firmly.

“Well... I didn’t really think you’d listen to me. Mages are nothing if not stubborn, myself included,” she muttered with a sigh, extending her hand.

Do-Jin placed his hand in hers without hesitation.

“Do you know how circuit opening works?” she asked.

“I heard about it at the Gate,” he replied vaguely.

The mage placed a mana stone engraved with a magic circle on Do-Jin’s palm, then began chanting. With a sharp crack, she crushed the stone between her fingers.

The fractured mana stone released a burst of sharp energy, cutting into Do-Jin’s hand. A brief sting followed, accompanied by the sensation of warm blood trickling down his palm. But it didn’t last long. Soon, a cool sensation coursed through his palm, quickly replacing the pain.

“All done,” she said.

It was surprisingly quick. The circuit, which would enable him to store and activate Tier 1 spells, had been established almost too easily. Do-Jin’s status window now displayed a new class field, which read “Mage.”

[Do-Jin]

Level: 8

Class: Mage

Strength: 7 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Dexterity: 8

Stamina: 46

Intelligence: 6

While he examined the updated stats, the mage had already returned her attention to her paper. Her posture signaled that her role in this interaction was over.

This is where the real work begins, Do-Jin thought.

Tap, tap.

He knocked on the counter again, pulling her focus back to him. His voice was steady, but his words carried undeniable confidence. “I heard there are additional benefits for special recommendation candidates. Is that true?”

“Hmm...” The woman furrowed her brow, releasing a small, ambiguous hum. “There’s... nothing I’ve been explicitly told about, to be honest. I’m not exactly in charge here. Still, I might be able to give you a basic spellbook. Those are there for a reason, after all.”

She gestured to a nearby bookshelf crammed with Tier 1 spellbooks of various kinds. Even those books were valuable. The moment they were used, they would directly implant magical knowledge into the user’s mind, generating a skill.

“What do you think? Should I give you one? They’re not just ordinary books with writing, you know? These are imbued with real magic, and if you tried to buy one, it’d cost a fortune.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Do-Jin replied. “What I’d really like is access to the library.”

Her movements froze. She raised her head and looked at Do-Jin as her eyes grew cold.

“Excuse me... what did you just say?”

“I said I’d like access to the library.”

The mage’s expression shifted to one of disbelief. “There’s no such thing as a public library in Elthomagia. Most books are privately owned by individual mages.”

The woman feigned indifference. Her expression now seemed relaxed and uninterested.

Regardless, Do-Jin drove his point home. “I’m not talking about just any library. I mean the Library of All Truths.”

This was a legendary treasure trove where Elthomagia’s magical knowledge was stored, accumulating over centuries. It was sometimes referred to as the Ten Thousand Archive.

“If you’re joking, you’ve gone too far,” she said with her voice sharpening. “The library is off-limits to anyone below Tier 7. You’d have to be a Blue Mage at minimum. Someone like you, who just became a mage, has no right to even approach this restricted area.”

Elthomagia’s hierarchy followed the colors of the rainbow, representing the path to magical enlightenment: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, and finally, black. A blue-ranked mage was powerful enough to oversee an entire regional tower. Only such individuals were granted limited access to the Library of All Truths.

For a mere novice like Do-Jin to even mention setting foot in the library was preposterous. Also, for someone who dreamed of one day stepping into the library as a Blue Mage or higher, Do-Jin’s request was nothing short of absurd. It was no surprise she found his words deeply offensive.

Great. Thanks to all those trashy novels romanticizing the Library of Ten Thousand Truths, we get people like this, she thought bitterly.

With an irritated flick of her hand, she reopened her paper, clearly signaling that she was done with the conversation. Even the faint hint of courtesy she’d shown earlier had evaporated.

But Do-Jin, undeterred by her cold demeanor, calmly pointed at the communication bracelet on her wrist.

“It seems you’re just not familiar with the protocols. Why don’t you check with someone more knowledgeable? According to the contract between Elthomagia and the Adventurers’ Guild, special recommendation candidates are entitled to ‘one additional benefit.’ This clause was personally written by Elthomagia’s most esteemed figure.”

Her eyes widened, and she slammed her hands on the desk. “You’re unbelievable!”

He’d dared to invoke the authority of Elthomagia’s sole Black Mage, a living legend. The audacity!

And yet, despite her rising anger, she couldn’t simply dismiss him. Regenians, after all, were all under a special recommendation program run by the Adventurers’ Guild. The Tower Master’s connection to the guild was so deeply ingrained in Elthomagia’s lore that even children’s books depicted their stories.

What if... as absurd as it sounds, he’s telling the truth? The mage hesitated.

If his claim turned out to be legitimate and she dismissed it outright, the guild might file a formal complaint. It wouldn’t just end with a reprimand from her superiors. This was the kind of trouble that could ruin her entire career.

Her fingers nervously played with her bracelet as she mulled over her options. Some part of her was genuinely curious. Could his outrageous claim have some merit?

In any case, it’ll be his problem, not mine.

“Alright,” she said at last, glaring at Do-Jin. “I’ll ask. But if you’re lying, you’d better be prepared for the consequences. That person’s name is not something to throw around lightly, even if you are a Regenian.”

Do-Jin gave her a calm, confident smile and nodded. There wasn’t a hint of hesitation or doubt in his expression. In fact, he looked as if he were entirely certain of what would happen next.

[Quest: The Greedy Chamber of Truth]

Grade: Hidden

The Library of All Truths in the Imperial Magic Tower, Elthomagia, is accessible only to high-ranking mages. However, in rare and exceptional cases, outsiders may gain entry. Discover the method and enter the Ten Thousand Archive. There, you may glimpse the fragments of truth hoarded greedily within.

Objective: Gain access to the Ten Thousand Archive as a non-Elthomagia mage.

Reward: ???

A notification popped up in Do-Jin’s field of vision, confirming the hidden quest he had been anticipating. His smile deepened. The mage’s irritation, her threats, and even her disbelief had all played out exactly as he expected.