Location: City of Medanya – 120 Degree Region – Kirmon Family Estate – Meeting Hall
The top five figures of the Kirmon Family, including the family head, had gathered in the Meeting Hall.At the center was Darkin Kirmon, the Family Leader.Standing before them was a boy who had just turned twelve, his head bowed, staring at the ground.
One of the senior members of the family, retired Tower Climber Tuld Kirmon, began to speak.
Tuld Kirmon:This is unacceptable! Mana 1?... 1?! There has never been a human on Earth with such low mana. This child is an insult to our family.
Tuld Kirmon was the brother of the former family head and the uncle of the current leader, making his words highly influential within the family.
Usy Kirmon:I agree with Uncle Tuld. Training him as a Tower Climber would be a complete waste of resources and time.
Usy Kirmon was the sister of the Family Leader, Darkin Kirmon, and among the top 50 strongest Tower Climbers in the world.
After Usy Kirmon's words, another member in the Meeting Hall, Halmin Joss, interrupted by shouting:
Halmin Joss:Please, don't make such a hasty decision. Even though your son has a low mana point, his physical attributes are above his peers.
Halmin Joss, like Usy Kirmon, was also among the top 50 Tower Climbers.
While these discussions were taking place, Darkin Kirmon was looking at his son Axel's status window before him.Of course, he could only see this window because Axel had granted him permission through the system.
[Name: Axel Kirmon]
[HP: 10/10][MP: 1/1]
[Endurance: 7][Strength: 7][Agility: 7][Skill: 7][Intelligence: 5][Wisdom: 6]
[Stat Points: 0]
[Active Skills: None][Passive Skills: None]
Halmin continued his speech.
Halmin Joss:While the average stats of a twelve-year-old are around 5, Axel's stats are almost all at 7.
Tuld Kirmon interrupted with a mocking chuckle.
Tuld Kirmon:Even though I find it odd that someone who isn't a Kirmon is participating in a family meeting about a family member, since you are the brother of the Family Leader's wife, I'll say this:
Halmin clenched his teeth and fists in anger but Tuld continued speaking without concern.
Tuld Kirmon:In the Kirmon Family, mana is extremely important.Although we are known for raising not only mages but also swordsmen, without mana, becoming even a swordsman, let alone a mage, is impossible.Even swordsmen must have Active Skills to use when necessary.Someone with 1 mana cannot use Active Skills.
Halmin Joss:Mana can increase. If he invests points into Wisdom and Intelligence, his mana will grow.
Tuld Kirmon:It doesn't matter. HP and MP are the only stats that cannot be directly increased by stat points.HP increases through Endurance and Agility; Mana increases, as you said, by investing in Intelligence and Wisdom.
Halmin Joss eagerly chimed in:
Halmin Joss:Then it's fine, isn't it?
Tuld interrupted him again.
Tuld Kirmon:However, the ratio is determined by the starting value.For someone starting with 5 mana, investing 1 point into Intelligence would be enough to increase their mana by 1.But for someone starting with 1 mana, based on my calculations, it would require at least 8 points into Intelligence or Wisdom just to increase it by 1.It would be a foolish move to dedicate all stat points earned in the early, easier floors solely to Intelligence and Wisdom.
Halmin Joss:Even if what you say is true, he could become a strong swordsman empowered by Passive Skills.
Tuld Kirmon:Starting with 7 stats is good, but it's not enough to compensate for his mana deficiency.In the 90 Degree Region, the Bogo Family under the God Od raises children who generally start with 10 points in physical stats, and even most of them can't climb past the 15th floor.
Halmin slammed the table in anger.
Halmin Joss:Then what the hell do you want?!Should we just exile the child without even giving him a chance?
Tuld Kirmon:I'm not the one making the decision. But he isn't worth the resources we would invest in him.
Halmin looked at Axel after hearing Tuld's words.Axel's head was still bowed, eyes fixed on the ground.Halmin then looked at Axel's father, the Family Leader Darkin Kirmon.Despite all the heavy words said about his son, there was no change in Darkin's expression.
(Internal thoughts are written in parentheses.)
Halmin Joss:(What kind of father doesn't defend his child from being called worthless?)
Halmin, as a last resort, turned to the woman beside the Family Leader.
Halmin Joss:Aren't you going to say something, big sister?Aren't you going to support your own son?
Queria Kirmon, Axel's mother and Halmin's sister, showed no change in her expression.Throughout the entire meeting, she had been staring at her son.Since Axel's head was always bowed, they never made eye contact.
Queria Kirmon:Axel is not fit to enter the Tower.There is no need to risk his life or waste our resources on him.
After hearing these merciless words from his mother, Axel, who had kept his head down the entire meeting, finally lifted it.With an expression of sadness and shock, he looked directly at his mother.
Usy Kirmon lightly chuckled after these words.Queria's face remained disturbingly calm.She didn't even feign sadness while speaking.
Halmin slammed his hand onto the table.
Halmin Joss:BIG SISTER!!!How can you say such things about your own son?
Usy Kirmon:Sister-in-law is speaking the truth. I commend her for not showing favoritism toward her child.
Halmin ignored Usy and directly turned to the Family Leader, speaking loudly:
Halmin Joss:Family Leader, you know too, don't you…?How hard he worked?Since he was 10 years old — for the past two years — he trained and studied every day.I've never seen anyone work as hard as Axel.His mentality and ambition are unmatched.Those alone could carry him to the top.
Throughout the meeting, Darkin Kirmon had remained silent.After Halmin's words, he glanced at his wife Queria for a few seconds, sighed, and turned to Halmin to speak.
Darkin Kirmon:I am aware of Axel's efforts.I'm not someone who judges based on initial numbers alone.There have been many cases where someone who started weak grew to be among the top climbers.However...
Darkin directly looked into the eyes of his son, who was now no longer bowing his head, but staring around in sadness and shock.
Darkin Kirmon:1 mana point is too low.No matter how hard he works, it places an unbreakable wall in front of him.Letting him waste his life as a Tower Climber would be senseless.Therefore, staying in this family is also impossible.
Halmin clenched his hand in anger.He clenched it so hard that his hand began to bleed.
Halmin Joss:(Then my last hope...)
Halmin Joss:You all know how much your mother, Clara Kirmon, adored Axel...
Tuld objected angrily.
Tuld Kirmon:How dare you drag Aunt Clara into this discussion!
Halmin ignored Tuld and continued speaking directly to Darkin:
Halmin Joss:Thanks to Clara Kirmon's [Spatial Eyes] ability, the Kirmon Family recruited many talented retainers.And before she died, she said that Axel had immense potential.
Tuld Kirmon retorted:
Tuld Kirmon:At that time, she was old and ill.No matter how legendary Clara was, no one can win against time.Axel's mana score shows clearly — unfortunately, she was mistaken.
Halmin didn't argue back.He just stared at Darkin, who had always loved his mother dearly.Darkin looked once more at his wife beside him.After a moment, he sighed and turned to Halmin.
Darkin Kirmon:It's clear that my mother misunderstood something.It's not surprising that an elderly, ill woman misinterpreted such an abstract ability.
Halmin was in shock.
Halmin Joss:(It's over... I have nothing more to say.)
Halmin slumped back into his chair, looking painfully at Axel.Axel was looking around with a miserable and stunned expression.
Darkin Kirmon stood up and, with an authoritative voice, declared his decision:
Darkin Kirmon:I, Darkin Kirmon, Family Leader of the Kirmon Family, declare that the Kirmon Family will not support Axel Kirmon in climbing the Tower, and that Axel Kirmon will henceforth be relocated to the Fortress of Sefa.