The Munchkin Magic Genius is Laughing

“Stupid fools”

I muttered as I left the magic tower.

“Sigh….”

A sigh naturally escaped. After being reincarnated into this world, I had lived very diligently. I tried to build various qualifications to enter the magic tower, and I never stopped self-improvement in magical aspects.

By the way, creating my unique skill called ‘Movement’ was also a unique ability possessed by my character in the game.

▶Movement

-Can be used on various objects including skills, items, people, etc.

-When Movement is used, the target is enhanced. The direction of enhancement can be freely modified by changing the elemental array, as long as the user’s mana permits.

-When combined with artifacts, it amplifies all mana in the surrounding area.

-When Movement is removed from the target, the elemental array returns to its original state. However, if concentration is disturbed during this process, serious damage may occur.

-Basic duration effect: Handles complex mana calculations.

-Basic duration effect: Magic utilization greatly increases.

Simply put, it’s like an enhancement device? Except that when removed from the artifact, the host gets sick.

It’s easier to think of it as a parasitic worm with enhancement abilities. Instead of taking a host, it enhances their abilities. Viewed negatively, it’s like taking a host, but viewed positively, it might be like the relationship between a crocodile and a plover bird.

‘Anyway, the magic tower must be in chaos by now.’

Because I had installed ‘Movement’ in all devices in the magic tower. Did I do it with bad intentions? That’s not it.

Lunia, a member of the magic tower’s magic research institute, along with Research Director Cloria and others, were fascinated by my Movement skill and asked me to install it throughout the magic tower, so I used my ability for them. Of course, they manipulated the reports to the magic tower to make it seem like they did it themselves, despite the Movement I had installed.

‘Ah, come to think of it, Lunia and Cloria will be responsible for this incident’

The magic tower now thinks that Lunia and Cloria used the ‘Movement’ skill. Since they took credit for my work, this is only natural. So the damage caused by the disappearance of Movement will be their responsibility.

I bear no responsibility. Because the moment I reveal that Movement is my skill, it would be like admitting that they’ve been stealing my achievements all this time, so they’ll have to suffer silently, unable to say a word.

“Stupid fools.”

They probably never imagined that an artifact enhancement skill would have such a self-destructive function. Go ahead and suffer. Not that they’ll be able to solve anything anyway.

‘Haah….’

Although I had resolved to leave the magic tower, now that I had actually left, a sigh escaped first. After being reincarnated into the game, I struggled desperately for nearly a year to enter the magic tower, and then after actually entering, they didn’t even pay me proper wages and stole all my achievements, so I had almost no savings and no suitable job prospects.

The only experience I had was working at the magic tower for a year, and the only things I could mention in a self-introduction were that I could create various magical artifacts, had excellent magic utilization abilities, and lastly, that I could use ‘Movement’.

‘How am I supposed to make a living with this….’

If I had recognition, people would surely line up to ask me to use Movement or apply for magic tutoring. That’s how special this ability is.

But the problem is that I currently have no recognition at all. How many people would allow someone they don’t know to do strange things to their artifacts? Also, who would trust a magician who worked at the magic tower for a year… but was expelled, and entrust them with expensive tutoring?

‘If only there wasn’t the magic tower’s record check….’

The magic tower permanently records the faces and names of expelled people and willingly shows them when checked. It’s a serious penalty for those who are expelled. If I use my time at the magic tower as a qualification, the fact that I was expelled will obviously be discovered. Even finding private tutoring would be difficult.

‘Sigh….’

With a heavy heart, I entered a tavern.

“Two glasses of your strongest drink.”

“That’s 5 gold per glass, is that alright?”

“….”

There was a moment of silence. I modified my words slightly.

“The strongest one that costs 5 silver per glass….”

“Understood.”

The currency value in this world is approximately 1 bronze equals 100 won, 1 silver equals 1,000 won, and 1 gold equals 10,000 won. I obviously couldn’t afford to spend 50,000 won on just one glass of alcohol, and even spending 1 gold on 2 glasses was extremely extravagant, but… today seemed like a day when I needed to drink.

I worked hard, like a dog, but there’s nothing left and nothing to show for it. What a fucking situation. I’m trembling even over a single glass of alcohol.

— Gulp!

I sigh again as I down the drink.

“Phew….”

After downing two glasses of alcohol, I heard a strange sound from beside me.

Hiccup!

I ignored it and was about to order another glass when I heard the sound again from beside me.

Hiccup!

‘What’s that?’

When I looked to the side, there was a woman in a drunken state hugging a huge bottle of alcohol.

‘Tears of the World Tree, 17 years aged.’

Is she rich?

While I was trembling as I drank a mere 5 silver glass of alcohol, someone else was drinking a whole bottle of alcohol worth over 100 gold per glass, and I felt the stark reality hit me. The Tears of the World Tree is known as a fantastic alcohol that maximizes its taste with each year of fermentation. And it’s even a 17-year vintage… naturally, it’s so expensive that ordinary people might wonder if they could taste it once in their lifetime.

Looking at that ethereally beautiful alcohol, I thought.

“I wish I could have just one glass….”

Shit. I meant to just think it, but I said it out loud.

The woman turned around and looked at me with drunken eyes and replied.

“Whaat…? Were you talking to meee…?”

I tried to brush it off.

“It’s nothing.”

“….”

The woman tilted her head quizzically, then poured her alcohol into a small glass and handed it to me.

“Would you like a glassss…?”

The alcohol she offered.

Perhaps she saw me openly saying I wanted to drink someone else’s alcohol and thought I was a beggar. Feeling somewhat offended, I was about to firmly tell her “I am not a beggar” when.

— Slide

She pushed the glass of alcohol toward me. Tears of the World Tree, 17 years aged. Its fantastic aroma began to hit my nose. But I’m not a beggar. I’m a man with principles. I can’t succumb to just one glass of alcohol.

I will firmly decline. I proudly said.

“Can I really drink this for free?”

Ah, shit.

Fortunately, she didn’t look at me strangely and handed me the glass anyway. As if to say drink it if you want.

I gladly picked up the glass. A sweet fragrance that spreads subtly. And yet, the subtle smell of alcohol. A heavenly aroma like hundreds of sweet fruits, mixed with only the delicious parts. I savored it.

And just before drinking it, I asked her once more for emphasis.

“Really… is it really free?”

To justify myself, it’s not that I’m a pathetic man. This alcohol is 100 gold per glass. My living expenses for several months could potentially vanish at once. It means my livelihood could be threatened.

“Yesss… it’s free, so drink uppp… I’m too drunk to drink anymoreee….”

Ah, the smell of alcohol. Fortunately, this time I thought it rather than saying it out loud.

I happily drank the alcohol.

“Cough…. Cough…..”

As I was suffering, the tavern owner and the girl who offered the alcohol shouted in panic.

“H-hey, what’s wrong with you? Pull yourself together!”

“Wh-what’s wrong… are… are you okaaay…?”

“The taste…”

“Whaat…?”

“It’s so delicious….”

“….”

The tavern owner shook his head and returned to his position. On the other hand, the girl sighed in relief, as if she was worried that something might have gone wrong after I drank the alcohol she offered.

Seeing her expression of genuine concern, I suddenly felt sorry. Additionally, with the thought that she might offer me another glass if we became a little closer, I casually spoke to her.

“Ahem… by the way, why are you drinking here?”

“You see… there’s an academy instructor exam soon… and I don’t have anyone to go with me for this testtt….”

“Isn’t the academy instructor exam taken individually?”

“It changed from this time… they say you need to have one person to assist youuu….”

“Why don’t you post a job listing?”

“Well… it’s tomorrow morning… my sister who belongs to the magic tower was supposed to come with me, but she says she can’t comeee… she promised meee… she says a big problem happened at the magic tower so she can’t comeee… suddenly all the artifacts stopped workinggg… it’s already well past midnight… the exam is this morning, how can I find someone… even if I find someone random, I’ll just fail again… if I fail again this time, my dad will really kill meee….”

— Flinch

The reason the magic tower is in that state is obviously because of me. But I can’t honestly say that, can I? I spoke with genuine concern for her.

“Oh my… what a difficult situation… How about I take the exam with you?”

“Whaat…? It would be nice if you could go with me… I really need to pass this timeee…”

When she spoke with a surprised expression, I answered her.

“I am a magician from the magic tower who has worked there for as long as a year.”

“Huhh…? Reallyyyy…?”

“Yes. I’m a proud son born of the magic tower. If you want, I can also verify my work experience.”

“Wow! Then can you help meee?”

I omitted the part about being a ‘former’ magician of the magic tower… but the magic tower bastards used me to death, so can’t I use them too?

With this rationalization, I gestured toward her bottle of alcohol.

“Ahem… by the way, shall we discuss business while drinking that alcohol? Let’s exchange names first. I’m Jeff. What’s your name?”

“I’m Ariel!”

◈◈◈◈◈◈

Selina, a magician belonging to the magic tower, used a long-distance transmission device to send a message to her younger sister.

[Ariel… I’m really sorry I can’t go with you to the instructor exam because something really urgent came up at the magic tower…]

Late at night. She sent a message to her sister with a serious expression. Even as she sent the message, she felt uneasy thinking about how her sister would be sad.

‘Ariel….’

As Selina was looking at the message with a restless expression.

Lunia rushed over and spoke.

“Magician Selina… please come here quickly! I… I can’t stop it with my power alone.”

At her words, Selina immediately ran over.

Where Selina and Researcher Lunia arrived was the center of the magic tower.

It’s the central control artifact of the magic tower, called the Source of Life.

Lunia shouts.

“This… central control device keeps malfunctioning… what should we do….”

Hearing Lunia’s words, Selina reached her hand toward the central control device.

— Crackle!

As tremendous electric shocks begin to occur, numerous warning sounds ring out.

[There is a problem with the magic tower’s floating facility.]

[The magic tower’s sewage treatment facility has malfunctioned.]

[Permanent damage has occurred to the magic tower’s data storage institution.]

.

.

Selina asks Lunia with a desperate expression.

“I can’t control it even with my power…? Why… who was in charge of this before?”

Lunia spoke in a small voice.

“Originally, it was me and Research Director Cloria who were in charge….”

“Then call Research Director Cloria! Right now!”

Lunia asked with worried eyes.

“Is… is it a serious matter…?”

Selina answered with desperate eyes.

“If we don’t take immediate action… the magic tower might collapse.”