◈ Episode 103. The Path to Take. Elder Mage.
Senios of the Eternal Snow.
Killed in action during the disposal of the high traitor, Karimzeba.
His memorial was held in secrecy.
“……
Damn it.”
Someone said as much, grinding their teeth.
An elder mage of the Magic Tower had died in battle.
Even a grand funeral would not have been enough.
And yet, all they could do was mourn him with barely twenty people present.
The Magic Tower’s internal circumstances.
Only mages of senior rank and above knew the truth. They were the only ones who knew of Senios’s death as well. They knew it could not be helped, but……
“……
I am sorry. Lord Senios.”
Amid grief mixed with complicated emotions.
Marcelo looked at the frozen Senios. ‘You are smiling.’ Within the eternal snow that would never melt.
Senios was smiling.
As if he had lived a life with no regrets. ‘But those left behind cannot smile so easily.’ Yet Marcelo kept one thing firmly in mind.
That the reason Senios had closed his eyes was because of demons.
And because of demon worshippers.
So the moment the mourning for Senios came to an end.
Marcelo opened his mouth.
“With this, the Magic Tower has suffered damage that will be difficult to recover from.”
Senios’s death.
Now, only a single elder mage remained in the Magic Tower.
However, Senios’s sacrifice had not been in vain.
“But through this, we have come to know with certainty.”
Emotion filled Marcelo’s voice.
“Who our enemy, the enemy of the Magic Tower, truly is.”
That emotion was unmistakable anger.
The Magic Tower had finally begun to move after breaking free from the shackles of contradiction.
Senios’s sacrifice was no different from showing that Magic Tower its destination.
The calm before the storm.
A silence flowing quietly.
The senior mages knew without anyone having to say it.
Had they not witnessed it in the first rift they had entered?
The sight of demons pouring forth.
Because of that, they learned that demons were reaching their claws not only toward the Arcana Continent, but toward this world as well. It was only natural for their hearts to change.
Now that they had a target called demons.
They could not hesitate. ‘……
I.’ Bangrit could not easily look at Senios.
He felt like a fool for having clung to something useless.
As if that were not enough, he had even been deceived by a demon worshipper.
If only I had noticed the signs……
If only I had not been deceived and had informed the Magic Tower……
Then Lord Senios would not have ended up like this……
Bangrit lowered his head.
For a long while.
The one who awakened Bangrit, who had been hanging his head, was an aloof voice.
“Raise your head, Senior Mage Bangrit Tom.”
“……!”
“Excessive silence in mourning is also a breach of decorum.”
It was Hoyeol’s voice.
“……
L-Lee Hoyeol, Chief.”
Bangrit raised his head and looked at Hoyeol.
All eyes focused on Hoyeol.
Hoyeol had endured hardships greater than any mage present here.
Not only had he faced Karimzeba.
The demons known as legion commanders had all poured into the rift that Hoyeol and Senios had entered.
Moreover, Hoyeol had witnessed Senios’s final moments. ‘He must have suffered the greatest mental shock of all.’ ‘Just facing demons alone must have worn his mind ragged.’ ‘If it were me, I wouldn’t even be able to stand properly…….’ It was only natural that they would worry about Hoyeol.
And yet, as if rendering that worry meaningless.
Hoyeol was no different from usual.
He merely stood upright, looking at Senios.
There was no flaw in his mourning.
In accordance with formality and procedure.
Without wavering, Hoyeol completed his mourning for Senios.
Those watching thought. ‘He must be desperately suppressing his emotions.’ Hoyeol was, after all, the Chief of the Magic Tower.
Now that a void had formed in the Magic Tower.
He understood on his own that he must not falter.
Yes, just as Marcelo had not sunk into grief.
And had immediately presented the direction in which the Magic Tower should proceed.
Seeing Hoyeol like that, Bangrit came to his senses. ‘Even Chief Lee Hoyeol is enduring it…….’ For someone like me to be acting weak.
Bangrit hurried forward to stand before Senios.
With his mouth firmly shut, he commemorated Senios according to procedure.
“…….”
Though the person in question had not said a single word.
After Hoyeol appeared.
The senior mages of the Magic Tower came to feel a heavy sense of responsibility....
I could not grieve.
How long I had known Senios.
How close we were.
Leaving aside all that talk about grieving as a human being and so on.
I had witnessed his final moments.
Because my damned pride.
Was telling me there was not the slightest reason to be sad.
Senios had ultimately proven his pride and died in battle.
I remembered Senios’s expression. It was truly a face with not a single lingering regret. It was a death that contrasted with Karimzeba, frozen in an ugly form.
I looked at Senios once more.
I recalled the last words he had spoken.
—“The final lesson of my life was truly excellent.”
I do not think that regretless expression was thanks to me.
Because I knew.
Senios, that man, was a hopeless mage. ‘Considering his personality…….’ In his final moment.
He was probably happiest about the fact that he had defeated Karimzeba with ice magic.
However, my mourning for him was utterly sincere.
Because I, too, was a hopeless man.
Someone who could not act against his true feelings even if it killed him.
“I apologize, sir. You must not even have enough time to compose your emotions.”
Marcelo bowed his head to me.
No, I told you there is no need to apologize so politely.
Did I not just say it?
I am the kind of person who cannot do something if I do not feel like it.
So I answered calmly.
“Do not concern yourself.”
Clack— I immediately moved my feet, and the place I was headed was simple.
The lobby of the Magic Tower.
I had briefly checked the internet, and public interest in this incident was truly no joke.
Well, it was only natural that they could not understand it with common sense.
Everyone must have guessed from the name alone, had they not?
Recommended level 900, the [Cracked Dimensional Rift].
Eleven rifts bearing the same name as that one had appeared.
And yet, in just a few hours, all the rifts had been cleared. ‘The players themselves did not even get to step forward, though.’ The reason the players could not step forward?
Simple.
Because I had stopped the manifestation of the Magic Tower portals. After all, this [Cracked Dimensional Rift] had been generated due to circumstances internal to the Magic Tower.
The reason was that nothing good would come of the players finding out. ‘So in the end.’ Everyone had no choice but to misunderstand.
The senior mages of the Magic Tower.
No, even beyond them.
No one would imagine that even an elder mage had entered the rifts.
Naturally, their attention had no choice but to turn toward me. ‘They think I cleared all the rifts.’ There really is no overestimation greater than this……!
No, does that even make sense, logically speaking? That!
Would it be possible to clear rifts alone in such a short time, and eleven of them at that?
If only this really had not been an internal matter of the Magic Tower……!
However, I knew this damned pride of mine. 『For Grandfell, the emotion known as humility did not exist. To underestimation, he offered proof. As for overestimation, he would make it into reality no matter what.』 Such as I was, I would be able to spout it without changing a single shade of my complexion.
However, in accordance with this tiring pride.
I also could not make up words that did not exist.
Before the countless crowds gathered at the Magic Tower.
Amid the barrage of camera flashes.
I had no choice but to open my mouth like this.
“I will answer only matters I am able to answer.”
Even in my own opinion, with the utmost shamelessness.
“If you have complaints, refrain from asking questions.”*
Breaking news poured out with every word Hoyeol spoke.
──────
[Breaking News] Lee Hoyeol: “I entered the rifts.”
[Breaking News] Lee Hoyeol: “I stopped the Magic Tower’s portals.”
[Breaking News] Lee Hoyeol: “I cleared the rifts.”
──────
To think Lee Hoyeol would agree to an interview!
For the reporters, an unexpected windfall they had not even dared hope for was pouring down. Today, Lee Hoyeol was different from usual. Would he not answer any question they asked?
With that thought, one reporter even threw out a sensitive question.
“May I ask what happened inside the rifts?”
Of course, the answer that came back was cold.
──────
[Breaking News] Lee Hoyeol: “What happened in the rifts? I will not answer.”
──────
However, perhaps because they had not expected even this much.
Hoyeol’s attitude did not become an issue.
The public reaction watching the situation was not much different either.
-LOL this push and pull is insane
-Still, his interview attitude has gotten a lot better
-For real lol, before, you couldn’t even talk to him
-But isn’t it the reporters whose attitude improved? Seriously, this is my first time seeing reporters so orderly
-True lol, Lee Hoyeol’s attitude is consistently upright
Since this was an opportunity that did not come easily.
The reporters were persistent.
Among the questions they asked, there were some that stimulated the public’s curiosity.
“How difficult were the rifts to攻略?”
If they could not learn what had happened inside the rifts.
They would ask indirectly like this.
It was a question containing that intention.
──────
[Breaking News] Lee Hoyeol: “To me, every rift is the same.”
──────
In any rift.
And before any demon.
Hoyeol’s attitude did not change.
That was the meaning behind his answer.
But there was no way those listening could know Hoyeol’s inner circumstances.
-Look at that confidence lololololol
-Lee Hoyeol totally has the right to say that lol
-This time too, he showed it through actions rather than words, for real
It could only come across as the ultimate expression of confidence.
The comments updated in real time.
Watching them, Leoni spoke quietly.
-But aren’t they going to ask about that???
“……
So what was the reason he stopped the portals?”
Other players might not know.
But for Leoni, as well as Nam Taemin, Hisagi, and Jesse, who were gathered here, it was an extremely important question.
Yes, as the comments said, Hoyeol had shown them through actions rather than words. ‘……
Am I not even of any help?’ For some reason.
Jesse did not want to hear Hoyeol’s answer to that question.
Because she had seriously agonized over it during this incident.
Perhaps, to Hoyeol, help from someone like her.
No longer held any meaning. ‘Otherwise, he would have had no reason to stop the portals.’ Actions rather than words.
As if telling them there was no need to follow him, the portals had stopped operating. Jesse could guess.
If Hoyeol had stopped the operation of the portals with that meaning in mind……. ‘He would answer without hesitation, wouldn’t he……?’ A line would be drawn between herself and Hoyeol.
Because she could not become a hindrance to Hoyeol, let alone a help.
That was not a thought Jesse alone held.
Everyone gathered there was thinking the same thing.
Amid the tension, the question was finally asked.
—“Was there perhaps a separate reason you stopped the operation of the portals?”
And an answer followed without hesitation.
—“I will not answer.”
“……!!!”
Because Hoyeol did not answer.
The reason still could not be known.
But at the very least, for those who had been resigning themselves, it was answer enough. ‘Does that mean it is on hold for now?’ ‘Mr. Hoyeol is saying he will watch us.’ ‘……
I’m really going to catch up soon.’ The line had not yet been drawn.
Depending on what they did.
They might be able to move forward alongside Hoyeol, or they might not.
Once they realized that fact, they began to understand.
Nam Taemin, Leoni, and Hisagi looked at one another and spoke.
“……
Could it be that he brought us together because of this?”
“Hey, damn.”
“No, this is not something we can simply brush aside.”……
No matter what, isn’t that going a bit too far with the interpretation?
Leoni thought that.
But she could not erase the thought that perhaps it might be true.
Why, had they not said it?
That Hoyeol showed through actions rather than words.
So Jesse did not remain still either.
Short-range teleportation.
Jesse, who had left her spot before anyone knew it, lifted the brim of the cone hat she had pulled low over her head.
Then, toward the cone hat. No, toward her master, she declared. It did not matter what quest objective it became.
“I’ll work hard!”
In order to stand on the same line as Hoyeol.
Just as it said in the class quest.
It seemed she really would have to become something on the level of a [Great Mage].
Was this also thanks to Hoyeol?
Just like the Magic Tower.
There were those who had set new goals.
And.
What awaited those players was Thursday.
Arcana’s regular update....
『A new region is coming to you.』
『A new region, the Holy Land of the Order of the Goddess, Myuon, will be added.』….*The Order of the Goddess.
The Order of the Goddess was the most influential religion on the Arcana continent.
So much so that in the Empire, there was a saying: “When three people gather, one of them is bound to be a boring fellow.”
A boring fellow.
That was referring to a believer of the Order of the Goddess.
The doctrines of the Order of the Goddess were famous for being strict.
At the same time, “one out of three” was also an expression that indicated the enormous number of devotees of the Order of the Goddess.
And it was the holy land of that very Order of the Goddess, Myuon, that was revealing itself in reality!
Nor had the fervor over Hoyeol’s exploits had time to cool.
With update news appearing in succession, the community had no choice but to heat up once again.
-If it’s the Order of the Goddess, quests are definitely gonna pour out, lolololol
-Seriously, religion has been a quest hub since forever, lol
-Still, the players must be relieved, though ㅜㅜ, back when this was just a game.
The role of religion on the Arcana continent had been considerable.
Players, in particular, had received much help from the religious order.
From basic buffs to curing abnormal statuses, and even changing classes to healer-type classes.
It was not strange at all that the players were swelling with anticipation.
“Doesn’t it feel like things are coming together?”
“Right. The Magic Tower. The Yusra Kingdom. Frost. And now Myuon.”
“We’re small in number, but man, we’ve got everything!”
Yes, what would be strange is someone who showed no particular reaction after checking such update news.
For example.
Like Hoyeol, who leisurely set down his teacup with a soft click—.
I checked the update news.
The holy land of the Order of the Goddess, Myuon… Even with a gap of ten-some years, I couldn’t possibly not know of the Order of the Goddess. The Order of the Goddess had been the organization with the greatest power ever since Arcana began service.
But.
It’s strange.
That great Order of the Goddess. ‘Why.’ I looked at the flickering message.
To be precise, at the quest window. [Class Quest: The Extinction of Akshan]
The extinction of Akshan and the demon hunters.
O last demon hunter.
Uncover the truth entangled in the Holy War.
─Train your weakened body. (Repeatable)
─Identify the forces that participated in the Holy War. (In Progress)
●Encounter the Saint of the Order of the Goddess. (In Progress)
[The Extinction of Akshan]
Could it be entangled with a quest like this?
As I said.
There exists a gap of well over ten years for me.
So I don’t know what the Holy War (聖戰) even is.
I don’t know what truth is entangled with it.
I don’t even know why the Order of the Goddess appeared in the quest objective.
But it is not a problem.
Clack— I set down my teacup.
“It’s simply a matter to resolve by following procedure.”
Yes, now that a class quest has appeared.
It’s simply a matter of finding out everything step by step.
Just heading wherever the quest objective leads.
Well, in that process, perhaps.
I might end up having to tear apart the Order of the Goddess. ‘That would be nothing short of outright blasphemy.’
But it didn’t matter.
Because there is one of the few things I share with Geurangpel.
“I don’t believe in gods or anything.”
Of course, though I may not believe in gods, I do believe in levels.
I checked my status window.
Because I happened to have quite a few points to distribute this time.