◈ Episode 126. Infinitely Deep Darkness (2)
The Arcana Continent, the Ten Great Mysteries.
What each mystery was had been widely known. Even I, who possessed a blank period of well over ten years, knew of them.
But the [Ten Great Mysteries Quest].
'I had never heard of such a thing.' And not because of the blank period.
Just moments ago. When the [Tetsperren Fence] had come to mind, it had been the same.
-What??? Tetsperren??
-Finally, is the hype for the Ten Great Mysteries paying off???
-Raymon Sean has finally come to his senses? lolololol
-For real lol Is this the start of the foreshadowing payoff??
That was right. The Ten Great Mysteries had been treated as late-game content among players, so it was understandable.
Like Tetsperren, the mysteries were uncharted territories even on the Arcana Continent. 'Without a doubt.' I could be certain.
This was definitely a large-scale quest……!
A large-scale quest that would make any player's heart flutter.
Of course, for me, and for Grandfell, there was no swaying between joy and sorrow.
I perused the quest window with an unwavering gaze. [Ten Great Mysteries Quest: The Labyrinth of Tetsperren]
One of the Ten Great Mysteries of the Arcana Continent, Tetsperren.
Explore the Labyrinth of Tetsperren.
Reveal the true form of Tetsperren to the world.
Mysteries discovered so far: 0 / 10
─ Witness the Labyrinth of Tetsperren. (In Progress)
As expected, it was a linked quest.
If one thought only of the scale, wouldn't it rival a world-class quest?
But this wasn't something to be happy about.
Anyone could tell it would boast tremendous difficulty. 'This isn't a quest that should be unlocked at this point in time.' I could tell just by looking at how the quest had appeared before my eyes.
What had brought the mystery quest was the Dark Spirit.
That Dark Spirit had appeared due to a coincidence. Like with the [World Quest: Seed of the World Tree], it must have skipped the middle steps and started. 'Is progressing this even possible at my level?' Such a thought occurred to me.
Truly a tiresome disposition.
The words 'lack of ability' did not exist for me.
I shamelessly opened my mouth.
"I have understood your will."
"…… Is that truly so?"
"However, everything has its time."
It wasn't an excuse made for lack of ability.
I didn't know about everything, but at least quests had their timing. 'After all, this is clearly the [Tetsperren Fence] rift.' The outermost edge.
It was only natural that the Labyrinth of Tetsperren did not exist here.
Of course, the Dark Spirit seemed to be in a confused state.
"However, somehow the scenery of Tetsperren…."
It wouldn't know what a rift was.
It wasn't strange for it to trail off in its words.
I spoke to the worried Dark Spirit as if soothing it.
"There is nothing for you to worry about."
"……?"
"For I know that time."
"……!"
"When the time comes, I shall seek you out."
I had spoken grandly, but I had merely blurted out what I was thinking.
Unless the quest objective appeared, unless the [Tetsperren Labyrinth] rift appeared, what could I do? But perhaps because my departing words were so noble, the response was no ordinary matter.
"You shall seek me……? Is that what you mean. Then I understand."
A voice that seemed shaken somewhere.
And after a moment, truly extraordinary words followed.
"O Infinitely Deep Darkness. I shall await your call."……
Seriously.
That damn title was no ordinary matter.
For this moment alone, let me be thankful for Grandfell's settings.
Otherwise, I might have exploded from the shame of my cheeks burning red, let alone merely blushing……. 'Anyway, I need to make sure of everything.'
For the [Ten Great Mysteries Quest] I had exchanged for my shame.
Regardless of its difficulty, I had no intention of missing it.
If so, first, laying a bridge for reunion with the Dark Spirit was the priority.
"Haiel."
My mirror…… No, I had Haiel, who would faithfully fulfill that role.
I sent a telepathic message to Haiel.
Haiel immediately bowed her head.
"I shall do as you command."
The Dark Spirit.
Its alien energy was such that even fellow spirits seemed wary.
Why, I could tell just from the reaction of the contracted spirits of the mages. 'If we exclude Peiyan's superior spirit Fire Drake…….' Everyone else was visibly intimidated.
In contrast, Haiel was fine.
More than fine, not a single tremor marred her elegant figure.
To think she had evolved into a {Unique Spirit}, extraordinary indeed.
Shameless……. No, reliable, Haiel.
I added one last thing.
"Let us end unnecessary commotion here."
As if understanding my meaning immediately.
The Dark Spirit answered.
"I shall obey your words."
At the same time.
Sssss─
The Dark Spirit began to dissipate like a lie.
The clamor of onlookers could be heard.
"I-it's starting to disappear?!"
"…… What on earth kind of conversation took place?"
"I think I heard a little. They definitely said the Labyrinth of Tetsperren!"
"Could it be a quest?"
Amidst the tumult.
The Dark Spirit, that fellow called out to me one last time.
"And I shall wait. O Infinitely Deep Darkness."……
I really wondered why I wasn't plugging my ears at that sound.
Gazes instantly focused on me.
Looking at the murmuring crowd, it felt real.
Calling me Infinitely Deep Darkness.
And the whole world heard it all.
Beyond having a thick face, my mental strength as I Hoyeol.
Could endure no more.
I looked at Peiyan and spoke.
"We withdraw."
"Huh? Ah, yes! Chief I Hoyeol!"
Peiyan answered in a tightly nervous voice.
Stepping outside the rift, I thought sincerely.
Suffering from mana exhaustion would have been far better than this.
*[Tetsperren Fence].
Who could have predicted?
Appropriate level, Level 450.
That an incident at an utterly ordinary rift would become such a hot topic.
Above all, it was NetTube where the most explosive reactions were appearing.
Sssss─ The Dark Spirit revealing its form from empty air.
Its very appearance had been enough to cow the viewers.
The urgent voices in the video had doubled the vivid atmosphere.
-"A-appearance message popped up! It's a Dark Spirit!"
Then, the moment the Dark Spirit fully revealed its form.
Before it stood Hoyeol.
Cheonha Tongil, Shining, and of course.
Even the Magic Tower mages who had entered the rift with Hoyeol.
It was truly a Dark Spirit that had put everyone who entered the rift on edge.
-"W-wait. Isn't it too close?!"
But even before such a being, Hoyeol did not back down.
His usual posture.
Standing as straight as always.
He faced the Dark Spirit.
And at that moment.
The line that set the world ablaze followed.
-"I pledge myself to you. O Infinitely Deep Darkness."
Not only subjugating the Dark Spirit. But even the title 'Infinitely Deep Darkness.'
Naturally, the world couldn't help but be turned upside down.
-Just crazy
-Infinitely Deep Darkness ddddd The force is insane
-Doesn't it just sound extremely awesome the moment you hear it?-For real Apparently it wasn't just something Roks said??
Infinitely Deep Darkness.
As if having caught a major clue from that title.
The mass media even gathered experts to hold discussions.
"So what you're saying is that Infinitely Deep Darkness might be a class-related title. Is that correct?"
"Correct. Until now, there was no clearer evidence than this, was there? There were only guesses and headcanons floating around the community."
"Sir expert, it would be better to refrain from using non-standard language a little…."
"No, is this the time to nitpick such things? We're talking about a clue regarding the class of player I Hoyeol!"
Seeing him subjugate the Dark Spirit.
Some speculated that it was definitely a class related to black magic.
"Personally, I believe it's a hidden class."
"A hidden class?"
"Yes. To limit it as a class related to black magic doesn't make sense given the skills player I Hoyeol has shown so far. He even displayed outstanding swordsmanship."
"Indeed, when fighting the Tetsperren scarecrows, he naturally employed various skills."
"Therefore, I think this way."
Hidden class, Infinitely Deep Darkness.
That it might be Hoyeol's class.
Shining's base camp.
The sound of the TV blaring noisily.
Dmitri shouted in a voice even louder than that.
"Isn't that really going too far!"
Not only subjugating the Dark Spirit.
What, a hidden class?
And that class name is Infinitely Deep Darkness?
"To the point of being foul. Looking cool all by himself……!!"
It wasn't just Dmitri spitting out indignation.
The Yusra Kingdom.
The Golden Calf Tavern.
"Graaaaaah! Damn it!"
Gulp gulp─ Unceasing gulping.
Rakid, who rarely got drunk, was now swaying with intoxication.
Rakid spewed drunken babble with a twisted tongue.
"Graah. Haa infinitely deep daaarkness?"
There was a story behind Rakid's drunken rambling.
Before joining the Shadow Mercenary Corps.
Whether it was fame or notoriety.
He had been quite renowned.
And so the titles that followed him came to mind.
The Lawless One of the Colosseum.
Yes, that much was fine.
But then later, a muscle-brained man.
Later even an ogre wearing a human mask.
Of course, there was no one still spouting those nicknames now.
They had either shut up on their own or been made to shut up.
Having made them forgotten.
So Rakid was envious.
"What's with that cool-sounding title. Graaah. Th-that damn……."……
Thud!
Only after the completely intoxicated Rakid collapsed onto the table did peace return to the tavern. Snore─ As Rakid began to snore, those who could finally speak up did.
"Who would have thought such a major incident would happen in Tetsperren."
They were the League Explorers of the Explorer's League.
Among them was included Bak Hwigan.
Bak Hwigan carefully opened his mouth.
"The League hasn't really found out much about Tetsperren, right?"
"Right? We just wandered around near the Fence. The things that appear inside Tetsperren are really no joke. They're not even comparable to scarecrows."
"As expected, it's not called one of the Ten Great Mysteries for nothing!"
The first essential virtue of a NetTube player: reading the room.
Bak Hwigan chimed in appropriately and joined the conversation.
After all, this wasn't a gathering that happened easily. 'The topmost explorers of the Explorer's League……!' They were players and Arcanians alike, all highly renowned as explorers.
Normally, gathering them in one place would have been difficult. 'Come to think of it, isn't this also thanks to Hoyeol-nim?' Bak Hwigan had not forgotten the debt he owed Hoyeol.
Because there was an achievement, if not quite an achievement, in being the first to broadcast Hoyeol's appearance, which had allowed him to continue his activities as a NetTube player to this day.
-Pilgrimage complete
-Is this the broadcast that first featured I Hoyeol??
-Tsk tsk, show proper manners. It's not I Hoyeol but Hoyeol-nim.
-Just HomensHomens indeed.
If Hoyeol were to find out, he would surely faint from shock, for the word Homen had first come from his broadcast.
Therefore, Bak Hwigan did not want to miss this opportunity. 'He said the Labyrinth of Tetsperren……. He must have received a quest related to Tetsperren.' Bak Hwigan did not doubt Hoyeol's abilities.
Whatever the quest, he would handle it effortlessly.
Just as he had crushed the Demon Kings.
However, Tetsperren, the Ten Great Mysteries, was slightly different.
The continuing conversation of the explorers.
"It's not called a mystery for nothing."
"First, there are too many danger factors."
"Honestly, if player I Hoyeol hadn't stepped in against the Dark Spirit…."
"If there were clear rewards like the Yusra Archipelago that was called Treasure Island, that would be one thing. But even if you uncover a mystery, you don't know what awaits."
Above all, it was a labyrinth.
Traps, of course.
And complex structures.
There was a reason the Explorer's League had failed to uncover these regions.
Entering the Labyrinth of Tetsperren without even explorers?
Regardless of ability, it was obvious he would suffer from a tiresome ordeal.
Of course, the explorers themselves knew this fact.
So the atmosphere flowed negatively.
However, Bak Hwigan, as his name suggested, was tenacious.
"Correct. A mystery is a mystery for a reason. But something has changed. Hoyeol-nim now has a purpose related to Tetsperren."
"……!"
At those words, the explorers hesitated.
They were among the top explorers even within the League.
If they succeeded in exploring Tetsperren, one of the Ten Great Mysteries……!
'High votes in the next Explorer's League Chairman election……!'
'Experience points? Who knows how many levels I'd rise.'
'Wait, isn't this an opportunity that doesn't come easily?!'
Exchanging glances in silence.
Bak Hwigan smiled inwardly.
"The one who crushed three Demon Kings, Hoyeol-nim himself. There couldn't be a sturdier support force than this…."
He drove in the final nail.
"Shouldn't the League step up at the organizational level, even if we don't benefit directly?"
*Yusra Kingdom.
My office, visited after a long time.
I found a letter placed atop the desk.
…… What kind of paper is this dazzlingly ornate?
Is it decorated with gold leaf?
I examined the letter.
"Excellent quality. But impractical."
Conflicting aesthetic sense and incorruptible integrity.
But that inner conflict was only the beginning.
I let out a gasp from the very first line of the opened letter.
──────To the Dear Infinitely Deep Darkness.──────
…… Whoever it is, this is definitely a ploy to mess with me!
Could it be Number 3, Sworn Enemy, I Yerim?
No, if they were going to send a message, they'd have just sent a talk. They wouldn't do something like this.
The shame I had barely suppressed boiled over.
I wanted to tear the letter to shreds right then and there, but.
"!"
Upon confirming the sender, I could not do so.
──────Fabian Delong, Chairman of the Explorer's League──────
The Explorer's League.
Because I could guess why they had sent me a letter.
Therefore, I spoke as composedly as possible.
"I shall review your proposal according to procedure."
Of course.
Given that they had called me Infinitely Deep Darkness.
As fairly and squarely as possible.