Extra Babel

As he entered, some students around started whispering to each other.

"Look, that's him. The first ranked guy in the first year"

"Yeah, I heard he opened the path of Azazel, no one has ever done that before"

"He even managed to beat Lin Dukian in the exams"

I heard all their rumors with a neutral expression as I was watching the person in question apologizing to professor Lehrin.

Despite Tower of Babel being a game with many playable characters, the first one that you got to play is Mikhail, you need to play as him and unlock the other characters before playing with them.

That's why he's considered the main character of the game. Though, he could be considered one of the worst characters to play.

He's incredibly talented and strong, to the point that playing as him feels boring. 

Unlike other characters, you can't choose different paths, runes, or almas for him, everything is predetermined. This lack of freedom only makes the experience more tedious and less enjoyable.

But, after playing with countless characters, Mikhail was still the one closest to the true ending, despite I never being able to reach him as well.

Lehrin looked at him with an amused expression, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "You're Mikhail, the one who scored the highest in combat exams, am I right?"

Mikhail flashed an embarrassed smile as he straightened up. "Yeah, that's me. Though I'm not all that impressive—I nearly failed the theoretical exams."

Lehrin nodded with a knowing look. "I won't ask why you're late, since it's the first day. I'll let it slide. Now, find yourself a seat so we can get started."

Mikhail muttered a quick thanks before heading to the back of the classroom and sitting next to me. I didn't acknowledge him, and he didn't seem to mind. He simply settled in and turned his attention to Lehrin, waiting for her to continue.

Lehrin moved to the center of the room, standing before all the students. She surveyed the group for a moment, then spoke. "What do you all think is the duty of Challengers?"

A heavy silence settled, no one eager to answer. Lehrin raised an eyebrow and prodded, "No one? Come on, that's an easy one."

Finally, a student raised his hand—Lin Dukian, a serious-looking guy from the front row. "The duty of Challengers is to protect humanity from any threat."

Lehrin considered his answer for a beat, then shook her head. "Nice sentiment, but wrong."

Lin's expression faltered, but before he could respond, another student—one I didn't recognize—spoke up. "I'm sorry, but how is that wrong? Challengers have been protecting humanity since the Tower appeared."

Lehrin's gaze hardened. "No. Conquerors protect humanity. Challengers? We maintain what they've built." She scanned the room, letting the silence settle. "Anyone else want to try?"

When no one answered, Lehrin gave a small, humorless smile. "It's simple, really. Our duty is not to protect humanity. It's to become Conquerors. That's all there is to it. To conquer the Tower of Babel."

The room fell silent, the weight of her words sinking in. It was a reality none of us had been prepared for, an answer that shattered everything we thought we knew.

Lehrin continued, "All of you come from unconquered paths. Your duty is to keep challenging the Tower until one of you reaches the final trial and conquers it. That is your sole purpose."

She paused, locking eyes with Lin Dukian, who was visibly taken aback. "Your answer wasn't wrong. You're from an already conquered path, Lin. Your family has protected the Spheres since the beginning. But now, as a Challenger, your job is to take your family's legacy and become a Conqueror yourself."

Lehrin sighed, a trace of weariness in her tone. "I'm telling you this because it's the only thing that matters. Focus on the Tower, or die trying. Whatever happens within the Spheres do not concern you. Your only concern is conquering the Tower."

For most, Lehrin's speech would have been confusing. Since the day they were born, they'd heard nothing but praise for the Challengers, who were called the protectors of humanity. 

They grew up dreaming of being like those heroes, believing their duty was to protect the Spheres from every threat, internal or external. But the reality of being a Challenger was far more complicated than anyone could have imagined.

Right now, the greatest danger to humanity wasn't a threat from outside the Spheres, nor was it even the Tower that loomed over them. No, the true threat was something much closer to home. Humanity itself.

The political tensions between the Spheres were escalating, the perfect example being the Underground. The leaders at the top were engaging in petty, meaningless power struggles, and as a source of immense strength, the Challengers would inevitably be dragged into it. Whether we liked it or not, the fight for control within the Spheres was going to involve us sooner or later.

Lehrin's point was clear—she was telling us to stay out of politics, to focus solely on the Tower. Everything else, all the conflicts, the alliances, the petty squabbles among the elite—it wasn't our problem. Our one true duty was to conquer the Tower. That was the only goal we should care about. 

The tense atmosphere that had settled over the room seemed to dissipate when Lehrin clapped her hands and gave us a soft, reassuring smile. 

"Well, that's all for now," she said, her voice light and playful, easing the tension in the room. Then, glancing at her watch, she added, "Now, we can properly begin our class. Today, I'll be teaching you about magic."

With that, she stepped forward, positioning herself at the center of the classroom. The students' eyes remained fixed on her, curiosity and anticipation hanging in the air. A small smile curled on her lips—right before an invisible force surged through the room.

A powerful wind swept through the space, rustling hair and clothes as a radiant aura began to leak from her body, shimmering like liquid rose-gold. Then, with a single snap of her fingers, reality itself shifted.

In an instant, the classroom was gone.

The walls, the floor, the desks, and the chairs—all of it had transformed into a breathtaking field of flowers. Petals of every imaginable color swayed gently in an unseen breeze, their vibrant hues blending together like a painter's dream. The scent of blossoms filled the air, rich and intoxicating, as the soft grass beneath our feet replaced the cold floor.

Some students looked around in awe, their gazes flitting from one flower to the next, utterly mesmerized. Others, more skeptical, narrowed their eyes, searching for the trick. But I— I was impressed.

It felt real.

The wind brushing against my skin, the earthy fragrance of blooming petals, the warmth of the sun that wasn't there—every sensation told me this place existed. As if I had stepped into a hidden garden nestled deep in some forgotten valley.

At the heart of it all, Lehrin stood with a knowing smile.

"The Path of Fafnir is one of versatility," she began, her voice carrying through the illusory garden. "Its magic is deeply rooted in deception and trickery—fitting, considering Fafnir himself was a thief."

She moved gracefully through the field, reaching down to pluck a delicate flower between her fingers. Holding it up for us to see, she continued, "This illusion is woven from three Runes. The first controls the scenario, shaping the environment around us. The second and third Runes are about deception, tricking your senses into believing this world is real. That's why you can see, smell, and even feel everything around you."

Then, without warning, she raised both hands and clenched them shut— as if crushing something unseen.

The world shattered.

The flowers, the wind, the warmth—all of it vanished in an instant.

We were back in the classroom, sitting at our desks, as if nothing had happened. But the lingering scent of blossoms still clung faintly to the air, as if the illusion had left behind an echo of its existence.

With a gentle smile, Lehrin spread her arms.

"This," she said simply, "is magic."