Three years later.
Sirus City was vast and magnificent. Buildings rose in the style of the medieval era, their stone walls polished by time. The main roads were paved with smooth white stones, creating paths perfectly suited for horse-drawn carriages.
The people lived peacefully, earning their livelihoods through trade, while soldiers in light armor patrolled the streets with swords at their hips, maintaining order and security.
A horse-drawn carriage passed through the city gates, guided by a fifteen-year-old boy. His black hair and slightly worn clothes marked him as someone from the countryside.
His face was fairly handsome, though his body was not particularly athletic—hardly surprising, given how rarely he exercised.
This boy was Merlin.
Now fifteen years old, Merlin had chosen to leave his village in search of his true self. At least, that was how he explained it to his parents.
With supplies loaded onto his carriage, Merlin unfolded a small piece of paper taken from his pocket.
"Rose Street, number 24. White building," he read quietly.
He proceeded down Rose Street, searching for the white building his parents had told him about.
Before long, he found it.
A small white structure stood before him, its appearance resembling an abandoned house long forgotten by time.
Merlin stepped down from the carriage and unloaded his belongings.
"So this is where my parents used to live," he murmured, staring at the eerie-looking house.
"Well then… I'll just clean it up before living here," Merlin said calmly, accepting the gift his parents had left him.
He glanced back at his carriage parked along the quiet roadside. Seeing no one around, Merlin gently patted the horse.
In an instant, the carriage vanished, swallowed by Merlin's magic.
"Now I'll just store all my things."
After sealing the carriage away with magic for later use, Merlin carried his belongings into the white building. He inserted the key into the door and pushed it open slowly.
A sharp creaking sound echoed as the long-unused hinges protested.
Dust fell from above as the door opened, revealing a small living room buried beneath layers of grime.
Merlin surveyed the house, guessing that it had been abandoned for longer than he himself had been alive.
"…Time to clean," he said.
…
Several hours later, Merlin finally finished cleaning the house. He arranged his belongings neatly in their places.
With the house in order, Merlin decided to explore Sirus City, gathering information on his very first day.
He chose to walk on foot, memorizing the city's streets and corners as he went.
The Sirus City Library stood near the main road at the heart of the city—a massive building filled with history and knowledge.
Merlin stepped inside.
"Hey, kid! What do you think you're doing here?!"
A woman stopped him as he tried to enter.
She appeared to be in her early twenties, wearing a light black dress and round glasses. Her long curly hair fell down her back, and she radiated the unmistakable aura of a bookworm.
"I'm here to read books, obviously," Merlin replied calmly.
"…"
The woman paused, looking over Merlin's slightly worn clothes.
"If you want to read, go sign the attendance sheet over there first."
She pointed toward a clerk's desk near the entrance.
Merlin was surprised. He had expected to be chased away, not politely instructed on procedure.
"…"
He nodded and bowed slightly in thanks.
After signing in, Merlin wandered between the countless shelves.
"Humans really have begun recording their knowledge extensively," he murmured, observing the vast collection.
"…Found it."
He pulled out a book hidden among historical records.
The book was titled Tower of God, written hundreds of years ago.
Merlin took a seat at a wooden desk and began reading alone.
After thirty minutes, he confirmed that everything written about the Tower of God aligned with his memories.
Then—
His eyes stopped on a particular passage.
The legend of Black Crown.
The first group to elevate humanity from despair.
Black Crown—those who conquered the 10th Floor alongside other races.
A party of four: Aaron, Darius, Lohan, and Sylvia.
They were hailed as the heroes of mankind.
Tears fell onto the pages as Merlin read.
The book stated that all members of Black Crown had emerged alive from the 10th Floor.
Realizing that they had survived filled Merlin's heart with indescribable joy.
"…Did they forget to write my name?" Merlin whispered.
It was also written that the boss fought on the 10th Floor was not Arken, but the God of Destruction, Rathanos.
"Didn't I defeat Rathanos back on the 8th Floor?" Merlin muttered.
"…"
Suddenly, realization struck him.
Without meaning to, Merlin slammed his hand onto the table, the loud noise echoing throughout the silent library.
"Is this… the effect of my spell?!"
The disturbance shattered the library's calm.
"I knew I shouldn't have let a kid into the library!"
From behind him, the librarian grabbed Merlin's ear.
"—!"
Startled, Merlin instinctively activated a defensive spell as his thoughts spiraled.
The woman's hand was repelled violently, her fingers swelling instantly.
"!"
She grimaced in pain, shock crossing her face as she realized the boy possessed an automatically triggered defensive barrier.
Merlin immediately turned around, seeing the bespectacled woman clutching her injured hand.
She began chanting softly, her words flowing like a hymn.
A green light enveloped her swollen fingers.
Merlin's eyes widened.
She had the Heal Trait—just like Sylvia.
The swelling slowly disappeared under the healing magic. The woman then looked straight at Merlin, curiosity burning in her gaze as she studied the powerful defensive spell he had unconsciously deployed.
"Boy," she said calmly, gripping her wrist, "would you mind talking with me for a moment?"
Merlin met her sharp gaze in silence.
"…Alright."