The Tower and the Dwarf

After a fantastic exhibition bowling match, it was time for the satisfying rewards. These gnolls, who had likely robbed passing merchants or travelers, had some possessions. In total, they found two gold and four silver coins, along with a few pieces of jewelry. The group decided to split the loot.

The split was calculated as follows: a certain mage and their two summons counted as three people, and the remaining half was divided equally among the three teammates.

The two gnolls who had fled also met their end, dispatched by Zhang Yuan's sword, which also conveniently replenished his energy pool.

The energy points were the biggest gain from this battle. All the monsters Tiny had crushed were credited to the mage. Combined with the four points remaining from before, the total energy reached 46 points.

This was a windfall. Someone secretly chuckled, as their auto-battler team finally saw a glimmer of hope.

It was so difficult, truly so difficult. Only monsters killed by his own hand or by his summoned creatures earned energy points, which meant he had only managed to collect four pawns along the way.

Now that he was suddenly wealthy, he could entertain more ideas and plans.

He entered the auto-battler interface, critically examining the few pawns that had refreshed today. It was no help; since the mage's level hadn't increased, he could only use Summon Monster I, and consequently, only level one pawns could be refreshed.

"Tiny, Goblin Tinkerer, Clockwork Goblin, Succubus, Crystal Maiden."

"Why is it always you?" Seeing Tiny again, Zhang Yuan felt a bit disgusted, completely disregarding the creature's recent meritorious service.

Without hesitation, he purchased a second Crystal Maiden, hoping to see her beautiful legs sooner.

After some thought, he then acquired the Tinkerer and the Succubus. One could launch missiles, and the other possessed healing spells. Coupled with Crystal Maiden's mana aura, they could attack and support, forming a self-contained system.

"Clockwork mode."

"I will enchant you."

With two opening lines, the Void Chessboard announced the arrival of new members.

Satisfied, Zhang Yuan exited the interface and continued forward. Looking up, however, he saw his teammates' peculiar expressions.

"Why are you all looking at me? Do I have tentacles growing on my face?"

"If you really grew tentacles, then you, no, we, would be in big trouble. Don't joke about those octopus-heads," Kagan retorted dismissively.

Zhang Yuan politely nodded his thanks and casually had Little Stone stand next to Kagan.

Bard stepped forward to explain, "Your performance just now was strange. You were spacing out, then suddenly started laughing, and your expression was… very…"

Perverted? Even though Bard hadn't finished speaking, Zhang Yuan guessed the word.

He stated earnestly, "I was inwardly delighted, not because I thought of something lewd, but because I suddenly had an epiphany and improved my summoning spell."

Since their mage was speaking so seriously, his teammates could only take his word for it. After all, he was the only mage, and such nonsensical babbling that would infuriate other mages somehow passed for genuine.

Not to mention Kagan, who was having great fun playing with Tiny, like a cat playing with a mouse, the group finally arrived at High Hedge Castle.

Standing before this magnificent mage tower, Zhang Yuan realized that his understanding of High Hedge Castle from his previous life's games was merely a glimpse through a keyhole.

The mage tower before him was a tall structure with a regular octagonal cross-section. The tower occupied a wide area, and unlike the pagoda-like structure of Ramstheis, High Hedge Castle's top and bottom were almost of equal width. The entire tower rose straight up, with a flat profile.

For reasons unknown, each corner of the tower's octagonal body was replaced by a cylindrical watchtower, giving the entire mage tower a slight resemblance to the bastion style of the 17th century in Europe from his previous life.

The tower was about twenty meters tall, divided into five floors. Regardless of whether there were spatial expansion spells inside, High Hedge Castle itself was already massive. The outer walls of the tower were plain and unremarkable gray. However, the fleeting currents and arcane lights flashing from the windows made anyone reluctant to underestimate it.

Standing at the entrance of the mage tower and looking at the castle-gate-like entrance before him, Zhang Yuan had only one thought: What a waste!

According to the information he had gathered in town, Master Tylanthyr, though magically powerful, was eccentric and preferred solitude. He even treated customers looking to purchase magic items with a poor attitude.

Other mages, more or less, would take in a couple of apprentices, whether for passing down their legacy, as inexpensive assistants, or even as spare experimental subjects.

But this one, he had heard, had never taken any apprentices and lived alone in his tower. Did he think that was something a person would do? Living alone in a building that occupied an area nearly three times that of a residential block, with an even larger actual usable area, was simply too extravagant and wasteful.

Perhaps he should consider taking in a talented and exceptionally gifted apprentice, like myself, as a final disciple? And maybe allocate two floors of this mage tower to me as a perk?

Zhang Yuan was so lost in his daydream that he was almost drooling.

At the entrance, the group saw a bell. It was likely there to announce the arrival of guests to the tower's master. Out of caution, Zhang Yuan first dismissed the Crystal Maiden pawn, as humanoid summons were rather conspicuous.

Regardless of how distraught Minsc became after suddenly losing his guardian witch, Zhang Yuan directly picked up the bell and gently shook it. The bell's sound was clear but not loud. Just as everyone was wondering if the bell's sound could reach inside the tower, Zhang Yuan put down the bell and waited for the tower's master to summon them.

In just a moment, heavy footsteps echoed from behind the door. With a creak, the tower's gate swung wide open.

The one who appeared was not human, but a two-meter-tall golem, which approached them with somewhat sluggish steps.

As the group got closer to observe, they noticed that the golem's material was quite peculiar. It was neither metal like steel or mithril, nor was it made of earth, stone, or sand. Instead, it looked like it was pieced together from the bodies of different animals.

"Flesh Golem!" Kagan shouted, "I know this! This is the most evil creation of necromancers, pieced together from the corpses of their victims!"

The two clueless individuals who didn't understand the situation were stunned. They felt that what Kagan said made a lot of sense.

Kagan, gaining momentum, spoke with even greater passion, "The person living in High Hedge Castle is not the magic master we thought, but an evil necromancer. The only outcome for us entering is to end up on his dissection table!"

Zhang Yuan couldn't be bothered to deal with this guy. He was so bold as to spout such nonsense at an archmage's doorstep without even understanding the difference between a flesh golem and a regular golem? He had quite the nerve.

Zhang Yuan simply crossed his arms and watched Kagan put on a show. He knew very well that Tylanthyr was aware of every movement in the entire mage tower, and Kagan was in for some trouble.

As expected, while Kagan was pontificating and highlighting the dangers, and the two clueless individuals hesitated whether to go or stay, the golem that had been standing before them suddenly grabbed Kagan.

Kagan, held by a two-meter-tall flesh golem, looked like a foolish cat Tom caught in the act by his owner, gulping down saliva and not daring to move.

Before Kagan could even beg for mercy, the golem, holding the unfortunate dwarf, started spinning him like a windmill. The clumsy golem spun faster and faster, eventually giving the impression of a legendary Blade Storm.

And Kagan, unfortunately, was that blade.

Fortunately, it was just a minor punishment before he was put down. Kagan, upon hitting the ground, swayed as if drunk and was on the verge of losing consciousness.

Suddenly, gurgle~~~ At this moment, Kagan truly resembled a barrel, but while a normal barrel spewed wine, this guy…

Archmage Tylanthyr probably didn't expect such a thing to happen. The flesh golem kicked Kagan down the steps at the entrance, and a somewhat hoarse but strong voice echoed from within its body: "Make that fool wait at the door. Don't defile my mage tower. You lot, follow the golem."

So, the group went down the stairs, patted the foolish dwarf to show their sympathy, and then followed the golem into the mage tower.