◈ Episode 137. Trust Me (1)
[The Last Adventurer: You do not die on the Arcana Continent. Upon death, you immediately return to reality and cannot access the Arcana Continent for a set period of time.
- Cooldown: 24 hours]
The [World Tree’s Seed] quest had been completed.
The title system had been unlocked as a reward.
It was, of all things, the reward for a World Quest, yet when I first confirmed its effect, I had wondered if anything could be more useless than this… And yet, a day had actually come when I could make use of it.
‘Of course, that’s only if the [Map That Communes with All Things]
is effective.’
I had some confidence that it was possible.
It was, after all, an epic-grade item, a demon king’s spoils.
Above all, the basis for that was the scene I had witnessed in the [Broken Dimensional Rift].
Even an unnamed demon, [???],
had entered the rift with his bare hands.
And I was offering a demon king’s spoils as a sacrifice.
It would only be worth the cost if that much was possible.
“Time waits for no one.”
Yes.
That was a rare good line, Hoyeol.
Time was limited.
‘Marcelo has reached his limit.’
Setting foot on the Arcana Continent…
It did feel somewhat earlier than I had expected.
But that meant it was something I absolutely couldn’t put off.
So what I needed was a short amount of time and thorough preparation.
In other words, I had to return to my roots and struggle desperately.
What I had to prepare was simple.
“Your application to leave the tower is on hold.”
First, finishing the duties of the Chief according to procedure.
Honestly, these damn formalities and procedures…!
I wondered if there was really time for this.
But if I didn’t do it, it was obvious Marcelo would have to take it on.
Hadn’t I learned that from countless experiences in society?
There was nothing more stressful than handling work someone else had shoved onto you.
In fact, it could end up shortening Marcelo’s life instead.
“That is unfortunate, Senior Bellier Yusia.”
The reason I set aside Bellier’s application to leave the tower?
Simple.
Because I had no choice but to go to the Arcana Continent alone.
‘It’ll be a living hell, no different.’
Even if the final weapon, the Quirnberg Machine Tower, had been activated, the new World Tree’s Seed had hatched, and the demons’ activities had died down after Demon King Absal was crushed, the Arcana Continent was already practically a demon den.
‘Even for a senior mage of the Magic Tower, it’s a dangerous place.’
Unless the entire Magic Tower moved there as a whole, perhaps.
“The realm of an inferior breed, is it? I wish to trample it underfoot this very instant.”
As always.
My mouth spouted its usual nonsense.
If not for the effect of the [Last Adventurer] title, it would have been such a reckless act that I truly wouldn’t have even dared consider it.
Even if the senior mages’ abilities were beyond my imagination, and demons were no problem for Bellier…
‘There’s no way to return.’
The effect stated on the item.
It didn’t say that multiple people could teleport.
Nor did it say there was a way to come back again.
On top of that, the moment the teleportation effect activated, the [Map That Communes with All Things]
would lose all of its effects.
Meaning that this time, even if I wanted to secure a backer—no, insurance—it was impossible.
At any rate, let’s begin the thorough preparations.
‘First of all, integrity and honesty can go to hell…’
I needed to get my money’s worth in every way I could!
I didn’t know about Granfell, but as for me, who still hadn’t realized the spirit of non-possession, I felt like I’d be wronged to death if I couldn’t make the most of the [Map That Communes with All Things].
‘Of course, the top priority is still…’
[Quest: The Request of the Simuard Family].
To succeed in the quest.
And through that, to lift Marcelo’s terminal curse.
Was it possible?
I wasn’t worried.
Because I understood this personality—Granfell’s profound and complicated pride—better than anyone.
[Though he was the heir of a great family, that family was brought to ruin by a demon.
The sole survivor of the family, Granfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo—hereafter Granfell—walked the path of a demon hunter to take revenge on that demon.]
The Magic Tower had sacrificed enough with Senios alone.
I could feel Granfell’s pride surging.
So what I had to do was the same as always.
“A simple warm-up before setting one’s mind to work is always helpful.”
─Train your weakened body. (Repeat) ▲
●Run 35 km (Success)
●Push-ups 2,500 times (In Progress)
●Pull-ups 1,500 times (Success)
●Burpee test 700 times (Success)
Now then, let the struggling begin.
*
Floating Garden.
Black and green.
An ill-matched pair sat facing each other at a table.
The first to speak was the one with green hair, Bellier.
“My application to leave the tower was placed on hold.”
Gnaw—
Bellier bit her lip without realizing it.
She was aware herself that her purpose for leaving the tower was not appropriate.
But she had thought that Chief Lee Hoyeol would understand the severity of the situation.
“…Because I don’t know how to lift it. How could I possibly present a specific objective?”
The terminal curse of the Simuard family.
Lifting it was her purpose.
But it was only natural that she didn’t even know what the curse truly was.
Still, it wasn’t even something worth blaming herself over.
Would the Simuard family not have tried?
And yet it was a terminal curse they had been unable to escape.
“It is not your responsibility, Senior Bellier.”
The founder of black magic, Matisse.
Before it was systematized, black magic had been called not magic but curses in some regions.
Thanks to that, Matisse too had heard of the terminal curse of the Simuard family.
Beyond that, before entering the Magic Tower, he had even faced one of Simuard’s blood relatives.
“That was neither magic nor black magic.”
A magic tool that responded to suitable mana.
Matisse stroked his ring.
At that time, the color of the ring had not changed.
It was proof that the curse was not black magic.
“I can tell just by looking at his face. He likely doesn’t have much time left.”
“If it were Senior Bellier’s healing magic…”
“My healing magic?”
Shake, shake—
Bellier shook her head.
“Perhaps I could keep him merely breathing. But unless the fundamental problem, the terminal curse, is resolved, that would be no different from necromancy.”
Matisse looked down at his teacup.
The tea had long since gone cold.
The still surface of the tea felt cruel.
“?”
At that moment.
Suddenly, a snort could be heard.
When Matisse raised his head, Bellier was smiling.
With an exceedingly bitter expression.
“He’s such a fool. Though it’s nothing new, really. Marcelo has been the same since childhood. Watching him from beside him was enough to make me irritated, he was so foolish.”
“Chief Marcelo is frighteningly foolish…?”
“Senior Matisse, do you know what the annual event of the Simuard family is?”
“I wonder. If you say an annual event…”
It would be something that happened every year.
Something that happened every year in a mage family…
As Matisse was pondering, Bellier added,
“A memorial service.”
“…!”
“Because every year, blood relatives die in the Simuard family.”
“Good heavens.”
He had overlooked it.
The terminal curse was a bloodline curse with no exceptions.
It would not be strange for victims of the curse to appear every year.
Matisse asked in puzzlement,
“But what does that have to do with foolishness?”
“I have never once seen him grieve.”
“…!”
“Even though every memory involving him from childhood remains vivid, without a single gap. When his father passed away, and when people he was close to passed away. Marcelo never once showed tears.”
Bellier had disliked the taciturn Marcelo.
Because he seemed like a good child quietly waiting for his own turn that would someday come.
Bellier snorted again.
“Look. It’s the same even now, isn’t it? With that body, what meeting does he think he’s going to conduct?”
The Crystal Hall.
Marcelo was currently conducting a Round Table Conference.
And if one asked why the two of them were not attending the meeting…
It was because they felt they wouldn’t be able to bear seeing Marcelo’s weakened state.
‘This is concerning.’
Matisse’s mouth went dry.
In the end, was there truly no method?
Just as he reached for the teacup with a heavy heart.
“…?”
Drip, drip—
Ripples spread across the calm tea.
The teacup was trembling faintly.
The vibrations gradually grew stronger.
The source of the tremor drew closer.
“Lady Bellier!”
A skilled mage of the Healing School, Cle.
Thud-thud-thud—
Cle, who had been running over in a hurry, flinched.
To think Lady Bellier had been conversing with Senior Matisse.
“I’m sorry for interrupting your conversation…!”
“There is no need to apologize.”
“We had just finished talking. It’s all right, Cle. What is the matter?”
“Ah, well!”
Had something urgent happened within the Healing School?
It wasn’t good to eavesdrop on others’ affairs.
Just as Matisse was about to slowly rise from his seat.
“I think I need to tell you about the Crystal Hall, about the Round Table Conference!”
The Round Table Conference?
The Round Table Conference should still be in full swing.
Curious, Bellier asked,
“Go on, Cle.”
Huuuup.
Cle caught her ragged breath.
Then she continued.
“…What did you say?”
But what she said was something utterly unexpected.
“…Chief Lee Hoyeol is going to enter the Arcana Continent?”
Bellier and Matisse.
The two of them looked at each other at the same time.
How was he going to enter the Arcana Continent?
They could not know the method.
But they could guess the reason.
“Could it be that the reason Chief Lee placed my application on hold was…”
Was it related to Marcelo?
This was not the time for guesses.
The three of them hurriedly headed for the Crystal Hall.
…
The Round Table Conference.
I declared before the mages in the Crystal Hall.
“I intend to enter the Arcana Continent.”
Very confidently, at that.
It was the position of Chief, one meant to protect the Magic Tower.
And yet I would be leaving my post for personal reasons.
So seeking the understanding of every member of the Magic Tower was the proper procedure.
That was right.
Everything had happened because of Granfell’s pride, which placed importance on formality and procedure. Still, had there really been a need to say this at the Round Table Conference?
‘This is like bragging in front of all the employees that I’m taking annual leave.’
Exchanging it on parchment would have been more than enough.
Besides, I hadn’t even confirmed yet whether the effect of the [Map That Communes with All Things]
was still valid. What if I couldn’t teleport to the Arcana Continent like this?
‘I really don’t even want to imagine cleaning up the aftermath then.’
However, there was no way for my true thoughts to show.
“The time I will be absent will not be long. Therefore, I would like you to refrain for a few days from requests related to me, including applications to leave the tower. I ask for your understanding.”
…Ask for your understanding?
Granfell, you knew how to say things like that?
You’ve grown up.
My brief moment of admiration did not last long.
In the silence that flowed, I realized something.
‘…Wait, I forgot my own position.’
Suddenly, the past came to mind.
When a department head told employees he was asking for their understanding, there had always been some damnable reason that followed. But in that damned hierarchical society, I had no choice but to obey when I was told to.
This was asking for understanding in words alone. In reality, it was nothing more than a one-sided declaration.
Right. I had wondered what had gotten into him. A personality that was dead without pride, a total old fogey, could never truly utter the words “understanding”…
“There is no need for that, Chief Lee.”
The one who broke the silence was Marcelo.
So having the same rank did make a difference, then.
With a look of lingering doubt, Marcelo continued.
“During the period you are absent, I will take care of your duties in your stead…”
No, then there would be no reason for me to seek out the Arcana Continent.
“I refuse.”
“…Pardon? You refuse?”
“I will say it once more. No one can take my place in my absence.”
I always feel this, but seriously.
Can a person’s mouth be this twisted?
All he had to say was that I would handle it after I returned.
And yet he said it in such a grandiose and prickly manner.
Still, thanks to that, my intention seemed to have been conveyed clearly.
“I understand.”
At Marcelo’s answer, silence flowed once more—
But the silence did not last long. After the new Round Table Conference began, the Magic Tower had learned of the existence of demons and the current state of the Arcana Continent.
Murmur, murmur—
Voices reached my ears even without trying to listen.
“…How is he going to enter the Arcana Continent?”
“Has he discovered some new method?”
“But even if that’s possible, it’s far too dangerous!”
Even the World Tree had felt threatened enough to scatter new seeds.
The Arcana Continent had faced the threat of extinction.
I had said I would enter that living hell.
It was only natural they would be worried.
“Even if it is Chief Lee Hoyeol…”
Amid the commotion, someone raised a hand.
A familiar face.
It was Bangrit Tom, senior of Pure Mana Studies.
Even in this situation, he observed proper form.
As expected, learning anything under strict instruction from the start was effective.
When I unconsciously nodded in satisfaction, Bangrit spoke.
“I do not doubt your abilities, Chief, but will you be all right alone? As you know better than anyone, Chief, the Arcana Continent is currently…”
At Bangrit’s question, all eyes focused on me.
Creak—
Even the gazes of Matisse and Bellier, who had belatedly entered the Crystal Hall. Was I truly going to enter the Arcana Continent alone? Had my liver crawled out of my body?
Each of them must have been thinking something along those lines.
“As I said, I will enter the Arcana Continent alone.”
But there was no need to look at me so pitifully.
In Granfell’s words, one might call it “arrangements.”
You see, even if I look like this…
‘I do have a few reliable reinforcements on the Arcana Continent.’
Hiel. And the dark spirit.
The dwarves’ airship that should be flying in Arcana’s skies.
And lastly.
Akshan’s final weapon, the Quirnberg Machine Tower.
[Experience is accumulating in the final weapon, Quirnberg Machine Tower.]
[Fame is accumulating in the final weapon, Quirnberg Machine Tower.]
[You have acquired the authority to obtain the accumulated experience and fame.]
I hadn’t forgotten the experience and fame that must have accumulated in the Quirnberg Machine Tower, either.
So while I might be alone when I entered the Arcana Continent, once I entered, I would not be alone.
However, this damn way of speaking.
It wasn’t kind enough to explain the specific situation.
“However, there is nothing for you to worry about.”
All I did was add firmly,
“Trust me.”