The gates connecting Magic Towers looked completely different from the tower gates we usually used.


    The wide floor wasn''t stone but metal, engraved with magic circles meticulously carved by artisans with hammers and chisels. The massive magic circle, large enough to consume an entire tower floor, was filled with what looked like expensive magical dye.


    That wasn''t all - columns inscribed with irregularly flashing runes stood like temple pillars, and overhead a strange sphere that looked straight out of an 80s sci-fi movie hummed as it rotated its constituent rings.


    "Mages are amazing, no matter how many times I see this."


    "So this is what Magic Tower gates look like."


    "I saw it during the Season 2 tutorial but still can''t get used to it. Doesn''t it feel like the game genre suddenly switches to sci-fi here? Like that spinning thing''s about to open a hell gate with demons crawling out."


    "Alisa Friedrich''s party, total of 26 people, correct?"


    Unlike the simple doorframe gates that just teleported you through the middle, this Magic Tower gate screamed expensive complexity. As we admired it, a mage approached with clicking footsteps.


    A woman with tightly bound purple hair and glasses - exactly what you''d picture for a pretty mage - walked toward us, her heels clicking on the metal floor.


    It felt weird calling her "pretty but generic," but the game''s ★ appearance buffs left no choice. In my past life, these women would''ve had hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers, but here beauties worked in general stores and inns everywhere.


    "Destination: Empire''s north, Friedrich viscounty, yes... Oh? Hero? Aren''t you Hero Hanna and Holy Sword Owner Roland?"


    "Yes, is there a problem?"


    The female mage had been buried in her clipboard but looked up with a start, apparently sensing something odd. True to mage form, dark circles under her eyes suggested overtime and night shifts were the norm.


    Her startled look turned to a frown as she bit her lip, leaving Alisa confused by the Imperial teleport mage''s intense reaction. They''d used the gate fine on the way here - her eyes showed clear bewilderment at this development.


    But the startled mage''s irritation wasn''t directed at the Ice Cross Knights or hero party, but at the coworker who hadn''t handled things properly.


    "Hero, as explained last time, you can use the gate once per month for free."


    "Oh, really?"


    "Yes. It seems the previous staff didn''t explain properly."


    -She heard this when waiting for Teacher Roland in the Empire after Season 2 tutorial started


    -Why remember that?


    -Because we rewatch her streams when she''s not live


    -Ugh gross stalker get away *spits*


    -lol Why play Heroes Chronicle when you can watch 20 hours of Han Se-ah streams, that''s virtual reality


    The Imperial mage must feel wronged. When Season 2 started and Han Se-ah waited for me at the Empire''s Magic Tower, they probably explained everything thoroughly.


    What was Han Se-ah doing then? Didn''t she open point betting on when I''d visit the Magic Tower? She tried collecting mission rewards by running point bets with viewers but failed due to my trolling.


    The old mage''s eyes widened as he slowly examined us, then narrowed like a crescent moon.


    "My, you''ve brought distinguished guests, young lady. I must quickly arrange hospitality."


    "Hospitality?"


    "Yes. As both an Imperial noble and believer, it would be shameful to let the hero leave without proper reception."


    "Right? And though we''re fine, a carriage would be nice."


    "A carriage for five people..."


    "No! A carriage isn''t necessary. If the knights can walk, so can we!"


    Alisa and the old mage seamlessly coordinated their hospitality plans.


    Han Se-ah just asked one question, but suddenly plans materialized to meet the lord at the mansion, receive a dinner banquet, stay overnight, then travel by luxury carriage as honored guests.


    "Um... won''t this make it impossible to explore the domain? Maybe we could look around after dinner, saying we want an evening walk."


    -6 out of 7 missions instantly cut lol


    -Worried Roland would block missions? Plot twist, it was Alisa!


    -Refusing a blonde twin-tailed noble girl''s mansion invitation?


    -Pretty impressive character in many ways lol What kind of hybrid is this childhood friend blonde twin-tailed noble girl knight


    -Must have both a Yankee sensibility guy and Japanese anime otaku on the NPC design team


    Han Se-ah''s expression turned pitiful - she''d planned to accept missions and light up her minimap while in the north. But too bad - when nobles invite you to their mansion, you follow noble rules.


    ''This game really ties players down politically. Though I guess the Goddess-chosen hero can''t avoid politics.''


    Han Se-ah looked around desperately as 620,000 won worth of missions evaporated in under 3 minutes, but it was hopeless.


    I had no intention of helping with her missions and enjoyed watching her distress. The other members weren''t rebellious enough to refuse noble hospitality. Plus, they''d gotten close enough with Alisa to speak casually - who would refuse?


    Grace was whispering with Alisa, curious about hunting in the snow. Irene was looking around the Magic Tower, excited to visit the Empire when she hadn''t even toured the Kingdom. And Katie was again listening intently to Olek''s exaggerated stories.


    "So, any stories besides that rainbow treasure?"


    "Plenty! Just what I''ve heard could make me a wandering bard across the continent!"


    Though it was convenient that she took interest in the character quest herself, describing temple inquisitors as bloodthirsty berserkers seemed blasphemous.


    And so Han Se-ah''s missions failed before they began as the hero party took their first steps into the Empire.