◈ Chapter 133. Whining (2) AAU.
The branch directors of each branch around the world moved busily.
One by one, their faces appeared on the screen.
As someone looked over each of them, they spoke.
“Are the branch directors of Britain and the Republic of Korea not here yet?”
The question was asked, and at the same time—
Paht—Park Minjae’s face appeared in a hurry.
Park Minjae hastily greeted them.
“Hoo, I’m sorry I’m late.”
“Not at all. Mr. Park is someone we should understand.”
“You’re incredibly busy, after all.”
There was only one reason Park Minjae was busy.
Needless to say, it was because of Lee Hoyeol.
Until just moments ago, he had practically been running around the AAU Korea branch building in a frenzy.
Park Minjae caught his breath and spoke.
“I’ve spent the last few days just repeating the same words like a recorder. Honestly, once the Korean media sink their teeth in, they never let go. The existence of a hidden class? We’d like to know too, please. Even if I say it with the most wronged expression on my face……!”
“Oh, Branch Director. Your face is a little too close.”
“So you haven’t even been able to wash up, right? You look terrible!”
“……
Pardon? I went to the sauna this morning and came back all fresh and clean.”……
That’s fresh?
Those words rose all the way to everyone’s throats, but.
For now, they had to put them aside.
“Anyway, thank you for understanding.”
“Ahem. In any case, Britain is late.”
“They’ve been absent quite often lately, haven’t they?”
“……
Hasn’t the British side also had very few rifts forming for a while now?”
“Well. It can’t be helped. This isn’t a situation where we can wait, so let’s begin.”
An emergency meeting that hadn’t been scheduled.
The reason the AAU branch directors had gathered was simple.
A data screen appeared.
“So what do you think that thing’s true identity is?”
The depths of the Teppern Labyrinth.
A gigantic pupil embedded in the wall.
It wasn’t difficult to begin speaking.
“Just by looking at the pupil, its size, and the details of its skin tissue, we can tell. It is definitely a dragon-type monster. However, you all know this, don’t you? On the Arcana Continent, dragons…….”
That was common knowledge no Arcana developer could be unaware of.
“They only stay near the [Zero Mountains].”
“Isn’t there a possibility that setting has changed?”
“In fact, that possibility is high. At present. In other words, after the appearance of demons, the Arcana Continent is likely no longer the Arcana Continent we knew. But…….”
What followed was also common knowledge.
“This is a different story. A dragon buried deep underground? Dragons that should be flying through the skies and ruling over Arcana World?”
In other words, there was only one possibility.
Park Minjae spoke.
“If it’s something similar to a dragon…….”
“Pardon? Something similar? Do you have something in mind?”
“I do. In the East, there is such a thing. You know it, don’t you, Mr. Okazaki?”……
Nod.
At Park Minjae’s question, the AAU Tokyo branch director, Okazaki, reacted.
“An imugi. A being that longs to become a dragon.”
“……
An imugi?”
“According to Eastern legends, it is a being that endures for an eternity in order to become a dragon. To be honest, I had somewhat guessed as much. If it was a gigantic reptile discovered underground, nothing else came to mind but that.”
Park Minjae added.
“I was only wondering whether such a creature could exist in Arcana.”
Silence flowed.
If this had been back when Arcana was nothing more than a game, it would have been an opinion not even worth considering. A monster that hadn’t even been planned, let alone updated, appearing?
But Arcana was no longer a game, but another world.
“Come to think of it, the Great Evil itself was a monster we didn’t know. No, a being we didn’t know.”
Besides, hadn’t they already experienced a situation like this once before?
So it wasn’t something they could simply ignore.
Questions poured toward Park Minjae and Okazaki.
“Is this imugi strong? Is it similar to a dragon?”
I understand how they feel, but they’re all so impatient.
Park Minjae shrugged.
“Nothing has been confirmed yet, so there isn’t much I can tell you. Even if it is an imugi, I have no idea how it may have been expressed. However, one thing is certain…….”
Whether it was an imugi or not, it was something similar to a dragon.
That alone made it clear this was a situation worthy of concern.
AAU calculated coldly.
“Then let’s assume, in simple terms, that it’s an inferior version of a dragon. Including Lee Hoyeol, would the players currently inside the Teppern Labyrinth rift be able to eliminate it?”
The answer did not come easily.
“I believe everything depends on Lee Hoyeol and his performance.”[Rift of the Broken Dimension]
and the [Demon King’s Castle] rift were different stories.
At the time, Hoyeol had carried out a joint operation with the Magic Tower and other armed groups counted among the strongest even in Arcana.
Because everyone knew that fact.
A small clicking of tongues could be heard.
“Even if he is the legendary explorer Fabian, in the end, he is still an explorer. Due to the limitations of his class, it will be difficult to expect much help from him in battle…….”
It was the moment negative concerns began to surface.
Click—someone spoke in an urgent voice.
“Wait, additional update details have been posted!”
“Honestly, Raymon! Would it kill you to announce everything at once?”
“Could you share the details with us?”
“Yes, one moment!”
Click—soon, the update details were shared with all participants.──────A new rift, ‘Teppern Labyrinth,’ will be added.
A new monster will be added.‘Teppern Black Contractor’ : Lv.450A new boss monster will be added.‘The Being That Must Not Be Awakened’…….──────The Being That Must Not Be Awakened……!
Everyone’s eyes widened at that name.
An imugi, in order to become a dragon.
Hadn’t they said it was a being that crouched and endured for an eternity?
“It seems the Korean and Japanese branch directors’ guesses were correct, doesn’t it?”
There could be no name that suited it better than that.
But that wasn’t the only reason they were shocked.
“Its level is……?!”─────‘The Being That Must Not Be Awakened’ : Lv.900─────Level 900.
The highest among all monsters that had appeared so far.
It was a full 50 levels higher than the Demon King, Flauros.
The developers of Arcana.
For that reason, they knew better than anyone that the higher the level, the more extreme the difference of a single level became.
“And on top of that, it’s a boss monster and a dragon-type?”
They could say it with certainty.
It was stronger than the Demon King, Flauros.
Just as worry was about to settle over the branch directors’ faces.
“……
Wait a moment. Is everyone watching?”
An urgent voice continued once again.
“Watching? What are you talking about?”
“Park Hwigang. I mean the NetTuber streaming from inside the labyrinth!”
“Streaming?”
“Could you share the link? Screen sharing would be even better.”……
Something major has happened.
Amid the tension, the streaming screen appeared.
The scenery of the Teppern Labyrinth emerged.
There, an unbelievable sight was unfolding.
“Wait, those black figures……? They’re Teppern Black Contractors.”[Teppern Black Contractor].
As stated in the update details.
A normal monster appearing in the Teppern Labyrinth rift.
According to Arcana’s system, they could be considered monsters subordinate to the boss monster, ‘The Being That Must Not Be Awakened.’
But why were those creatures…….
Park Minjae muttered quietly.
“……
Why are they attacking the imugi?”
Normal monsters breaking free of the boss monster’s control?
From a developer’s common sense, it was a sight that simply could not be understood.
However, accepting the unbelievable situation was not that difficult. Because they could guess through experience.‘……
It’s Lee Hoyeol.’Whatever trick he had used.
Whether it was thanks to his class ability.
Or whether it was part of a quest.
They couldn’t even begin to guess the specific details.
But they could be certain.
This time, too, it was Lee Hoyeol.
“Haha…….”
Park Minjae let out a hollow laugh.
He proved his ability in the face of any adversity.
At this point, wasn’t this already at a level where they should simply believe in him blindly?
“So there was a reason everyone kept saying Homen and Lord Hoyeol, huh?”*[You have acquired command authority over the Teppern Black Contractors.][Teppern’s 10,890 Black Contractors][Current Status: Awaiting Orders]
It was not an unfamiliar message.
After all, I did have experience.
I had led the paladins of the Goddess Church, in my own way.‘To be honest, if I had my way…….’I wanted to give the order to attack immediately.[‘Fear’ occurs in The Being That Must Not Be Awakened.]
The 『Black Coffin』 had stolen its five senses.
And because I had added compatible mana suitable for it, [Fear],
one of the highest-ranking status effects, had occurred. In that situation, there was information reaching my ears.
“Emergency update details are up? What?! Its level is nine hundred?!”
What, level 900?
No wonder the scale felt so enormous……!
This went beyond whining—my lifeline was genuinely in danger.
Especially since I had been running my mouth until just now.‘A tantrum before sleep? If I indulge that, I’m going to end up sleeping forever.’That was why I wanted to end it with a swift, decisive strike.
As I said, [Fear]
was a top-tier status effect.──────Fear: Physically and mentally breaks down the target.──────It was the reason players feared demon-type monsters, and it was also one of the reasons I, who had nothing at all, could stand upright before demons.‘Fear is a status effect powerful enough to make a Demon King scream.’The moment Fear had occurred was the perfect opportunity to bring it down.
But because of this damned pride……!
In the urgent situation, I spoke calmly.
“You have already paid more than enough sacrifice.”
I said that while looking at the Black Contractors, the people of Teppern.
“And yet, do you still wish to right your wrongs?”
That was right.
Although I had obtained command authority over the [Teppern Black Contractors],
I did not control the people of Teppern for even a single moment.
Because the pride in my heart—so heavy and complicated that it would not be strange if it sank at any moment—could never have allowed such an act.
But there was no need to be impatient.
“!!!”
The effect of Fear was revealed immediately.
The gigantic pupil showed its agitation plainly.
Perhaps it was struggling with its body, which was even larger than that.
Ruuuumble—!
The labyrinth began to shake even more violently than before.
“Damn, isn’t this when we’re supposed to attack?”
“You crazy bastard. How are we supposed to charge into that?!”
“No matter how much you donate, I can’t give you a reaction for this. Seriously.”
A truly overwhelming force.
No one would be able to move rashly before it.
Fabian, the legendary explorer who must have gone through every hardship imaginable.
“Hoo.”
Even he was steadying his breath from the tension.
But those who wished to right their wrongs had no hesitation.
Ssssss—though I had given no command.
The Black Contractors rushed toward the creature as it flinched. Because of the 『Black Contract』, they were in a state where only their grudges remained.
Because of that, specific actions were impossible.
“?!”
They merely clung to The Being That Must Not Be Awakened.
“……
It’s good that they’re allies and all.”
“Are they actually helping?”
“They’re just hugging it, aren’t they? How are they supposed to deal any damage like that?”
That sight might seem ridiculous to someone.
It might seem powerless.
But not to me.
Even if others could not know.
I knew.
The meaning contained in that action.
Ssssss—the Black Contractors pressed against it were dyed in even deeper darkness.
They released compatible mana and vanished into the air.
In truth, they were practically pure crystallizations of compatible mana.
All the people of Teppern, with only grudges remaining, could do was—
burn themselves away and damage it.
Together with a black magical perspective.
“I see. I have learned of your pride.”
And even from the perspective of pride theory, my field of expertise.
In other words, I could not simply stand by and watch.
Flutter—the white outer wings fluttered in the air.
I drew up my mana.
Interference and manifestation as natural as breathing.
As though feathers were coming loose from the wings.
The attribute magic stored in the outer wings burst forth one after another.
The murmurs of the players reached my ears.
“……
What is that?”
“Is it a s-skill?”
“A skill? From where does the skill even begin? Those wings?”
But I did not pay attention to their murmuring.
No, I had no attention to spare.
The people of Teppern were burning away their final pride.
Because I could not take my eyes off that final blazing flame, not even for a moment.
Yes, this was the weight I bore within my heart.
The one hundred
attribute magics manifested from the outer wings.
The one that opened fire was [『Absolute Zero』].
It was [『Anomaly』], and not just any Anomaly, but one manifested by imitating Senios’s realm.
Naturally, its power was overwhelming even among the spells I could manifest.
Of course, the amount of mana it consumed was not something I, who was still only in the 400-level range, could handle.[Effect: When equipped, stores attribute magic manifested by the user. The number of spells that can be stored is proportional to the color of the outer wings, and when stored magic is manifested, mana consumption is reduced by 30 percent.
- Current number of stored attribute spells: 100]
Even if I stored it in the outer wings and reduced the mana consumption.[Mana regeneration increases slightly for 6 hours.]
Even if I added the effects of the Elixir Herb.
It was still a level of mana consumption I could not withstand.
And yet, in this moment, I had no mana exhaustion.[Skill, ‘Natural Enemy Relationship,’ activates.][Natural Enemy Relationship]
had activated.
Even without trying to figure out the reason, the instincts of a demon hunter who had reached his peak were telling me.
Among the players who had entered the rift in the depths of the labyrinth, there was a demon mixed in.‘Under normal circumstances.’Granfell’s temperament could not overlook a demon.
It would not have been strange if he had tried to hunt the demon before the being that must not be awakened.
But as I said, the people of Tetpeoreun were here.
“How dare an inferior race intrude where it does not belong.”
Everything must follow procedure.
There is such a thing as priority.
The demon hunt comes after taking that thing down.……
In any case, it was an immense relief for me.[Natural Enemy Relationship]
had activated, so I was able to slam [『Absolute Zero』]
into it right from the start. Even after that, I could draw out the stored attribute magic without staggering from mana exhaustion.[‘Frostbite’ occurs on the being that must not be awakened.][‘Bleeding’ occurs on the being that must not be awakened.][‘Paralysis’ occurs on the being that must not be awakened.]…….A level 900 boss monster.
But that thing was not in normal condition.
Thanks to all kinds of debuffs clinging to it, it was more than possible to take it on.
No, I had no choice but to take it down.
Because I was not alone.[Black Contractors of Tetpeoreun: 10,890][Black Contractors of Tetpeoreun: 9,754][Black Contractors of Tetpeoreun: 7,551]…….
The people of Tetpeoreun, sacrificing themselves until the very end.
Haiel and the dark spirit.
And Fabian’s group.
“Sir, we will also join the battle. Though even calling it joining the battle may be generous, since our combat power is nothing remarkable…… But thanks to your instruction to make every preparation, we brought some magic tools with us.”
Finally, even the players.
“Are you all just going to stand there and watch?”
“Weren’t you saying earlier that you wanted to fight alongside Hoyeol-nim?”
“Fuck, we have to do something. It’s embarrassing to just keep watching!”
The being that must not be awakened.
Countless coordinated attacks began pouring down toward it.
Rumble—!!
Had the pain brought it to its senses, even if only a little?
“!!!”
It began to writhe even more violently.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!!
The labyrinth’s rock walls completely collapsed, and its body began to reveal itself.
So the pupil had only been an extremely small part of it. Sharp teeth and claws appeared one after another.
“Holy shit, is that thing a dragon?!”
“It sure as hell looks like one!”
“If we’d been even a little late, those claws would’ve…….”
The startled players instinctively stepped backward.
But I remained standing straight, without retreating.
Didn’t I say it?
I had no choice but to take it down.
My pride was saying so.
So you, too.
You’d better not expect to be able to escape.[Pentagram of Pure Knowledge][Grade: Epic][Restriction: None][Effect: When equipped, acquire knowledge of every mineral and every plant on the Arcana Continent.][Description: A magic tool containing immeasurably vast knowledge.]
Underground.
Rock walls.
As long as minerals existed.
You would not be able to move even a single scale as you pleased.
“Kicking off your bedding will not be considered sleep-talking.”
“……?”
“Observe proper formality.”
“……!”
Crack—!