I'm The Only One With Cancer

Chapter 186: Challenging the Tower Master

Even though Ferd had told him that they would like to use the gateway along with him, Zen did not really have any gold coins.

So, even though he might have a group to split the cost with, he was not sure whether he could cover his share.

Seeing the expression on his face, Zolted placed down his cup of coffee on the table and said, "Well, if you’d like, I can waive the fees needed for your usage of the gateway, no matter if you use it alone or with a group..."

"Really?"

Zen’s face lit up before he suddenly realized inwardly, ’Wait a minute... there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world... well, I believe that no matter what world it is, nothing really comes for free...’

’Besides, from the way he was looking at me earlier, I have a feeling he wants me as his lab rat...’

’Let’s not overthink too much.’

Zen tried to suppress his thoughts as he took a deep sigh and asked, "What’s the catch?"

’This kid’s quite cautious. I better be careful with my words, lest I scare him away...’

Zoltes caressed his beard and smiled, "Hmm, I just need you to help me with some experime—"

"I’m out."

Zen stood up without hesitation as soon as he heard the old man about to say the word "experiment".

’He really wants me as a lab rat? Is there some sort of curse on me that makes everyone want me to be their lab rat!?’

"H-Hey, wait!"

Zoltes could not help but stammer; the grace of a grand mage was nowhere to be seen.

Zen looked at him with eyes full of wariness as his stance made it obvious that he was ready to leave at any time.

The old mage tried his best to come up with words, "Look, I’ll make sure that no harm will be done to you in any way. I swear it on my name as the Tower Master."

"I want to add a condition as well," Zen spoke, trying his best to maintain his calmness.

Zoltes looked visibly relieved. "What is it?"

"Teach me magic."

"Oho?"

Hearing the young man’s straightforward answer, the old man looked interested.

"Kid, although I’m asking for a favor, you’re asking the master of an Arcane Tower to personally teach you."

Flames could be vaguely seen in Zoltes’s eyes as he continued, "Me teaching you personally might actually do you more harm than good. I won’t lower my standards just so you can keep up. Why don’t I refer you to one of our professors instead?"

"Why not try me first?" Zen replied with confidence.

’Would you look at this kid...’

Zoltes could not help but lean forward as he felt his dignity as the tower master being challenged.

"Very well. If you can block a single fireball from me, I’ll think about becoming your mentor."

Hearing his words made Zen even more confident, ’Fireball? Although I believe I can deal with anything he throws my way, I’m more confident with everything related to fire.’

After all, he believed that there were few in the world who had experienced getting burned more than him.

Without further speaking, Zoltes pointed a finger towards Zen.

Boom—

Instead of the sound of combustion that would produce the fire that would form the fireball, what echoed in the room was something not unlike that of a nuclear explosion.

The only difference was the fact that the sound of the explosion seemed compressed to the minimum.

’Huh?’

Hearing the explosion that was anything but the sound of the fireball he had expected, Zen could not help but feel a little confused.

A boom sounded as a miniature sun formed at the tip of Zoltes’s finger.

A smile hung on the old man’s face as the miniature sun he called a "Fireball" slowly moved in Zen’s direction.

’This is not a fireball at all.’

His lips twitched at the sight of the mini sun slowly floating towards him.

In an instant, Zen’s mind went into overdrive.

’Had it been a normal fireball, I could have dealt with it easily on my own. But it’s also my fault for thinking that someone like the tower master would cast such a weak spell.

The only thing I can do now is...’

Under Zoltes’s watch, Zen’s lips moved as he said a chant with a wave of his hand.

[Contain]

Wooong—!

A translucent blue cube encased the miniature sun as it soon fell on Zen’s hands.

"Thank you for the gift," He said with a smile.

’Teacher did not specifically tell me not to use this magic, unlike when he mentioned not to use the Fire Weapon Art and Atomic Rend... So let’s just wish that nothing happe—’

Before Zen could even finish thinking, he caught a glimpse of the old mage’s expression, which made his heart turn grim.

At this moment, Zoltes had a serious expression on his face.

In the next instance, he muttered something inaudible under his breath before he chanted.

[Infinity Prison]

Poof—

Nothing happened, but for some reason, Zen felt like he could not move.

’No, I can move, but my body doesn’t move? What? What kind of magic is this? What is happening?’

Feeling disoriented by the sensation that overwhelmed his mind, Zen could hardly maintain his calm expression.

"What’s the meaning of thi—"

"Who sent you?"

Zoltes interrupted him with a sharp look in his eyes, "This magic is something that very few mages could cast. Who sent you? Speak."

"I came here by myself. No one sent me." Zen answered without an ounce of hesitation.

’Strange... he doesn’t seem to be lying. Besides, why would he want me to teach him magic? And why would he show Contain to me had he known that I would suspect him? He really seems clueless...’

Countless thoughts instantly swirled inside the old man’s head.

Feeling nervous inwardly, Zen added, "Besides, I already stated my purpose, didn’t I?"

"Hmmm..."

Zoltes squinted his eyes before closing them and heaving a deep sigh.

With a wave of his hand, the traces of his magic vanished without a trace.

Had it not been for the fact that Zen vividly felt the the weird sensation earlier, he would have thought that everything was an illusion.

"Let’s start afresh, shall we?" Zoltes said as he opened his eyes.

Seeing the young man before him nod in response, he felt relieved inwardly.

"First of all, when do you need to use the gateway?" The old man asked, stroking his beard, now back to his usual self—as if he had not just conjured a miniature sun moments ago.

Zen thought for a moment and answered, "Hm, I need to be there in less than two weeks."

"Alright, I’ll waive all the fees for you and your companions," Zoltes said with his eyes flashing with a strange light.

"Wait, do you mean that..."

"Yes, I agree to the conditions you earlier set. You just need to help me until you leave for the Pendragon Kingdom."

"Including you teaching me magic?"

"You... Well, let’s talk about that later."

’He didn’t say no outright, so I guess I should be content for now...’

Zen felt happy in his heart as he nodded, "Alright."

"Ha...."

A helpless expression appeared on Zoltes’s face as he spoke, "First of all, do you know why I found you interesting?"

’Why did he say it like a teenage girl who’s smitten after seeing a boy she liked?’

Of course, Zen did not dare say that unless he wanted another miniature sun hurling towards him.

Instead, he tilted his head slightly and asked, "No, but I’m really curious why."

Oblivious to his strange thoughts, Zoltes picked up his cup of coffee once again and took a sip from it.

"Well, do you know the flight of stairs you just crossed earlier?"

"No. But I think it’s some kind of a magical artifact..."

"You’re right. It’s called the Flights of Eternity, the artifact that serves as the accumulation of all my knowledge as a mage who specializes in space magic."

’Space magic? I didn’t expect him to be so cool...’

Zen could not help but look at the old man before him in a better light.

After all, to be honest, he found basic elements such as fire, water, and the like a little lame as compared to advanced elements like space.

’It’d be good to learn some space magic here... I wonder how cool I’ll look.’

As Zen was immersed in his thoughts, Zoltes continued, "It’s also an artifact that serves as a protection for the Iprahim Arcane Tower. In fact, I’m really surprised that you even thought of crossing it forcefully."

"Eh? How else was I supposed to get here?"

"You don’t know?"

Zoltes chuckled when he saw Zen’s puzzled expression. "We’ve set up command posts all over the city. Usually, people just head to one, have a mage send them here through the gateway—and naturally, pay the required fee."

"..."

Hearing the old man’s words, Zen fell speechless.