◈ Episode 112. Do You Grasp the Situation? (2)
The situation in Muon was being broadcast in real time.
The ones more on edge about the news than anyone else were the AAU.
There was no distinction between branches.
Because everyone understood the uncertainty of this incident.
“……
Is it really all right to just leave the players alone?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The variable called Freyja is far too big.”
Freyja, an unidentified existence.
At this point, the one moving Muon was her, the saintess. If only Muon had kept its gates firmly shut, there wouldn’t have been this much to worry about……
“Are our dear players the sort to listen just because we tell them to?”
“Well, that’s true too……”
“Of course, I completely understand why you’re worried. But let’s keep watching. More than anything, Muon’s attitude changed right after the Magic Tower, after Marcelo made his move.”
After a brief silence, he stared at the monitor—“In the end, it means we have no choice but to rely on Lee Hoyeol again this time.”
Because the one who had moved the Magic Tower was Lee Hoyeol.
And this time as well, Lee Hoyeol did not betray expectations.
He had appeared in Muon.
Dressed the same as always.
However, his actions were even more extraordinary than usual.
Enough to make those watching flinch.
“……
Wait, what is this situation?”
A paladin had knelt before Lee Hoyeol……!
The ones more shocked than anyone were the AAU.
They might not know who Freyja was, but they knew better than anyone about the settings of paladins.
“A paladin is kneeling……. To a player?”
“Just how high is the Reputation he’s built up?”
“No, that isn’t possible with Reputation alone.”
Yes, it was not something that could be done with Reputation alone.
A paladin, and not just any paladin, but the paladin commander, kneeling.
That meant Lee Hoyeol possessed considerable influence over the Goddess Church.
“Does that mean he had been progressing quests from the Goddess Church too?”
“Was that even implemented in the first place?”
“Just how much does Lee Hoyeol know……?”
But the shock did not end there.
Kugugugung—!
A thunderous roar.
Muon’s fortress suddenly collapsing.
And at the same time, a mass of tentacles revealed itself.
“A mo-monster in Muon? What the hell is that?”
A monster that did not exist in the database.
And Freyja, who likewise had not existed.
A gasp of horrified realization burst from the AAU.
“That was Freyja’s true form……!!”
They could not even identify the monster.
They could not guess whether it was strong or weak.
However, one thing was clear: it was no ordinary creature.
Otherwise, there was no way it could have impersonated a saintess in Muon and survived until now.
“Hurry! Contact the players!”
An unknown existence.
Its danger could not even be estimated.
Everyone had to refrain from rash action.
But they had merely forgotten for a moment in the face of the unexpected situation.
“……
Could it be this too?”
The existence of Lee Hoyeol.
As if he had also anticipated the existence of the mass of tentacles.
There was not the slightest disturbance in his posture.
His expression and gaze were the same as always.
And beside that Lee Hoyeol stood a paladin.
Shrrng—“In the name of the Goddess. Draw your swords, paladins of Muon!”
It was not one person.
Toward the gigantic mass of tentacles, they drew their swords.
Tens of thousands of paladins.
At that sight, the AAU had no choice but to acknowledge it.
Park Minjae, head of the AAU Korea Branch.
Before every member of the branch gathered there, he opened his mouth.
“At this rate, I don’t even know who the AAU is supposed to be.”
Damn it, who was supposed to be Anti-Arcana?
Arcana, which was encroaching upon reality.
The one actually responding to it was none other than Lee Hoyeol. What was even more astonishing was that, while accomplishing such tremendous things, Lee Hoyeol did not show it in the slightest.
“……
Hyeonjun, do you think you could do that?”
Yun Sugyeom asked Seong Hyeonjun.
Even if he had known that a mass of tentacles existed in Muon. Muon was no different from the inside of that monster’s maw.
Lee Hoyeol had leapt into that monster’s maw.
“This isn’t a game, it’s reality. Reality where your life is on the line.”
No matter how high my level was.
I couldn’t do it.
Seong Hyeonjun shook his head.
But Lee Hoyeol was doing it.
No, he had already done it countless times.
Without once making a show of it.
There was only one word that could describe Lee Hoyeol like that.
“Is that ‘nobility’ what made even the paladins follow him?”
Tens of thousands of paladins moved under Lee Hoyeol’s gesture.
Paladins of the Goddess Church obeying an outsider.
A player, at that.
According to Arcana’s setting.
It was something that absolutely could not happen……
“He’s truly an unbelievable player, Lee Hoyeol……!”
Yes, this too was reality.*It is reality.[Current Status: Awaiting Orders]
Tens of thousands of paladins stood behind me.
It wasn’t as if I were the master of a giant guild like Nam Taemin or Hisagi. Nor was I a [Monarch] class, so when would I ever have led such a large force before? It was certainly a situation where I could have felt burdened.
“Talim Eber. I accept your will.”
And yet, shamelessly enough.
I had taken hold of command over Muon’s paladins.
Wielding tens of thousands of troops?
No matter how much Grandfell’s setting existed.
There was a proper limit.
Even during my stormy period when I thought I was someone special, I had never once thought of commanding tens of thousands of soldiers.
Moreover, that had been the period when I thought being alone, being a lone wolf, was cool……‘From here on, this is my domain.’In the end, it depended on me.
I had no choice but to face it my way.
Yes, Lee Hoyeol’s way.
I was used to it now.
That thing where I dragged in everything I had and even what I didn’t have.
Kukwakakakwang—!
Muon’s fortress collapsing under the tentacles.
That too was mineral, so the target of exploration was beyond familiar.
Familiar enough that I could skip exploration and interference and proceed straight to manifestation.
Hududududuk—duduk—duk dududuhu—Muon’s collapsing fortress rose back up.
A scene like scattered puzzle pieces fitting themselves together.
At that sight, even the paladins who had steeled their resolve were left speechless.
“What is this?”
“The buildings are rising again……?!”
“……
Go-Goddess.”
Well, even to me, it was a spectacular sight.
Magic really was amazing, wasn’t it?
If one didn’t know better, it could look like a miracle of the Goddess.
However, the truth was extremely simple.‘『Reversal Magic』.’Only the target had become broad in scope.
The mana efficiency of Reversal Magic was quite excellent.
On top of that, [Natural Enemy Relationship] activated.
Because minerals were an exploration target I was more familiar with than anything.
Even after restoring the destroyed Muon to its original appearance, I had consumed almost no mana.
“Aesthetic value of this level is not common. It is necessary to preserve it.”
The reason was extremely simple.
A manifestation based solely on an aesthetic perspective.
However, there should be no problem.
Talim spoke to me in an exalted voice.
“Thank you. For protecting Muon.”
Because my true thoughts would not be revealed.
And that was enough.
Enough to scrape at the mass of tentacles’ temper, that is.
“Impudent, truly impudent. You dare to have the leisure to look around while facing this Nephrypit? How exceedingly arrogant. But at the same time, it is familiar. Every last one of you never knew your place.”
Every last one of you, huh.
That must mean the demon hunters of Akshan.
It was something I felt anew, but.
Demons certainly were good at talking, if nothing else.
“And what was your end because of that? Let’s see. The disgraceful state of you lot during the Holy War is still vivid in my memory. Foolish, you were. To believe without question the words of one you had never even met, and then leap into your deaths.”
So it hadn’t occupied Muon for no reason.
At the creature’s words, it was the paladins who reacted instead.
Slice—Talim cut away a tentacle that had stretched toward us, then looked at me.
“Holy War……? Could it be, you are?”
Was he asking if I was a demon hunter?
That was the look in his eyes.
Yes, I am a demon hunter.
The last demon hunter, at that.
I wanted to tell him plainly.
But Grandfell’s stubbornness could not be bent.
“That is not something to discuss before insignificant prey.”
One iron rule.
Do not exchange unnecessary words with prey.
Gooooo—Instead of answering, I raised my mana.
The mass of tentacles, thoroughly ignored, writhed grotesquely.[Exorcism Ritual] activated.
Because it had been invited into my ritual.
That must be why it could hear my voice even amid this uproar.
Soon, a drawn-out laugh was heard.
“Among those creatures, you are especially arrogant. Therefore, I cannot forgive you. Just what do you think I, Nephrypit, am?”
What do I think you are?
I think you’re an imposter pretending to be a saintess.
Of course, don’t feel hurt because I thought that.
To Grandfell, a demon like you isn’t even worth thinking about.
“The weak demon that hid in the shadow of great evil no longer exists. I am myself! The existence that half-baked demons dare not approach is me, Nephrypit! My power reaches that of an upper demon king!”
Pshushushushuk—!
At the same time, tentacles surged upward.
Hundreds.
No, thousands of tentacles stretched toward me and the paladins.
An attack pattern as wide-ranging as its size.
It looked as if someone would inevitably suffer harm.
However, if I was here, that changed the story.
Kurururung—!
Things I had.
Things I didn’t have.
If I, who had made up my mind to be miserly, was here.
Kugugugung—!
I raised the ground.
To be precise, Muon’s surface layer, composed of rock.
Its hardness was considerable, while from an aesthetic perspective, it was not lacking either.
In other words, it was a weapon satisfactory enough for me to wield.
Sssaaaeeaaak—!
Its form was like a disc.
I manipulated Muon’s surface layer floating in the air.
To cut away the tentacles stretching toward us.
Although telekinesis’s mana efficiency was not especially high.
This was not simple telekinesis.
Because I had certainly added a concept.『Magic』, different from telekinesis.
A completely new concept.[Skill], Simultaneous Fire.
Yes, it was [『Anomaly』].
Swaaaaaak—!
Dozens of discs sliced through the tentacles.
Their power could not be countered by 『Magic』 or [Skill].
Not with just one of them alone.
What did that mean?
Hudududuk—The creature’s tentacles fell to the ground.[‘Severance’ occurs on the True-Name Demon, Nephrypit.]
“!!!”
The paladins.
And Nephrypit too, stopped moving for an instant.
Tap—The only thing moving was my footsteps.
I opened my mouth.
“You are gravely mistaken.”
The iron rule that one did not exchange words with prey.
However, a tiresome personality that could not let incorrect words pass.
Therefore, this was not a conversation.
It was a one-sided declaration.
“To claim to be an upper demon king with only that much.”
I could not simply listen quietly.
The resurrection of an upper demon king.
In order to stop it, I and the Magic Tower had acted without pause.
In the process, we clashed with Karimzeva.
The elder mage, Senios, had fallen in battle.
It was the resurrection of an upper demon king that even the mighty Magic Tower had stopped only while accepting that degree of sacrifice.
Therefore, I murmured coldly.
“Do not make light of that sacrifice.”
True-Name Demon, Nephrypit.
As expected, the creature was strong.You could tell by the fact that it was perfectly fine even while surrounded by tens of thousands of paladins within [Exorcism Ritual]. The message had specified it as a True-Name Demon, a named monster, but.
Demon-type monsters grew just like players.
Just as the succubus that had possessed Baek Yiseol had done. This creature, too, must have grown incomparably stronger than before while living as Freyja, the saintess.
However, I knew.
An upper demon king was an existence even those who had reached a realm like Karimzeva.
Could not approach.
And yet you say you are equal to an upper demon king?
It seems your sense of reality has dulled from being cooped up only in Muon……
There was a saying that suited you perfectly.
“Foolish demon in a well.”
I shot the words out, then manifested magic.
“……
How dare you!”
If you did not give the other party time to answer, it was not a conversation.
The magic I manifested was simple.
If you dared to call yourself not only a saintess, but an upper demon king.
Then try enduring even this realm first.[『Absolute Zero』].
Senios’s secret magic.
Strictly speaking, it was not a realm, but an imitation of a realm.
Even so, it was [『Anomaly』].‘For a fake, a fake is more than enough.’Ososososo—Soon, even I, who was receiving the [Warmth] buff.
Felt a chill to the point of coldness as frigid air wrapped around Nephrypit.
“!!!”
The writhing tentacles froze solid.[“Freeze” has occurred on the True-Name Demon, Nephripit.][“Frostbite” has occurred on the True-Name Demon, Nephripit.]……
How do you like that? This is the cold, harsh reality outside the well....‘……
Impossible!’Frozen in place, Nephripit could not accept it.
How many humans had he deceived until now?
How vast were the negative emotions he had absorbed?
Had he not grown powerful through them?‘How could this body be……?’Then what in the world was that demon hunter?
From the moment he had invited Nephripit into his consciousness.
Even when Nephripit had revealed his true form.
No emotion could be felt from him.‘Impossible. How can a mere human……!!’A sense of incongruity swept over him.
Even when he had spoken of the man’s comrades.
To draw negative emotions out of such a fellow, it had been the same.‘How can he remain so calm?’Even when he mentioned the Holy War.
Even when he spoke of the demon hunters’ gruesome end. Not the slightest ripple of agitation could be felt from him. From beginning to end, even the gaze with which he looked down on Nephripit was the same.‘Arrogant.’That was why it had been enjoyable.
After all, it was more enjoyable to make someone fall from a great height.
But he could not make him fall.
Because a single mere human had completely overwhelmed him.
Had completely overwhelmed Nephripit.‘It wasn’t arrogance…….’At that moment, Nephripit recalled it.
The distant past.
The voice of the Great Evil who had taken him in.
—“I will leave Akshan’s disposal to you.”
—“May I truly receive such a great honor……?”
—“Do as you please. Everything is such a bother to me.”
The Seven Deadly Sins, Sloth.
He had thought her a foolish demon of the old age.
A natural enemy to demons?
He had not liked that even a Great Evil would fear humans.
But the moment he annihilated Akshan according to plan.
Nephripit had thanked her.
—“How foolish. To hand such a position over to me!”
Thanks to that, having taken Muon, he had grown stronger faster than any other demon. His ability grew more powerful by the day. Watching it, his confidence had soared.
—“I may even surpass the Demon King and come to be called a Great Evil.”
Sloth.
A true Great Evil greater than that foolish woman.
Nephripit had truly believed that.
Until he met his natural enemy.‘……
Move! I have to move!’Cold.
His enormous body would not budge.
It was an unbearable chill.
A cold so severe that even the flow of time seemed to freeze.‘All of you, stop. I am the Saintess. I am Freyja!’Amid it, he could see the paladins approaching him.
The feeble humans who had danced upon his palm.
They began to carve away his flesh.
And that scene.
There was a man watching it with the same unwavering gaze as ever.
For the first time since his birth, Nephripit felt fear.‘Am I, Nephripit, to die so meaninglessly like this?’Only then did he begin to understand.
Why the Great Evils, why the Demon Kings had feared Akshan so much. Why they had gone so far as to trouble themselves with wearing masks in order to drive Akshan to annihilation.
In the end, Nephripit had no choice but to plead.‘Great Evil. My master, Sloth! Please save me!’But no answer came.
The reason was far too simple.
Was she not the root of laziness?
She was Sloth itself, who had neither come to seek him out.
Nor disposed of him despite his repeated rebellions.
Naturally, there was no way she would save him, either.‘Daaaaaamn iiiiiiit……!!’...[Your level has increased.][Your level has increased.][Your level has increased.]……
The mass of tentacles vanished.
I put off checking the messages that rose in a dizzying flurry for now.
Now that the hunt was over, I had to make sure of something.
I asked Talim, who was approaching me.
“I shall ask the Goddess Church about the Holy War.”
That damn way of speaking of mine.
Even saying the same thing, it really did sound arrogant.
But there was no reason I would not get an answer just because I sounded arrogant.
Had I not confirmed it through the messages just now?[Your relationship with the Holy Land, Muon, has increased greatly.][Your influence in the Holy Land, Muon, has increased greatly.][Your friendship with the religion, the Goddess Church, has reached its maximum value.]
Besides, I had a rightful qualification.
There was no need to explain what that qualification was.
Talim, commander of the Goddess Church’s paladins.
Thud—He knelt before me.
Formally, with his head bowed.
“I will take full responsibility. Even if it means ‘judgment.’”……
Wait, that wasn’t the kind of judgment I meant.
There was no time to correct the misunderstanding.
There were far, far too many eyes watching.
“D-Did he just say the Goddess Church would take responsibility……?”
“Take responsibility for what?”
“Judgment……? Lee Hoyeol is going to judge the Goddess Church?!”
First, let’s move somewhere else.
“This is not a suitable place for conversation.”
“……
Ah, I will guide you.”
“I would prefer somewhere we can drink tea and have a pleasant chat.”
“……?”
After battle.
Replenishing my mana was an extremely important procedure for me, you see…….