◈ Episode 150. Seed of Tears (1)
[Map That Communes with All Things]
[Grade: Epic]
[Restriction: None]
[Effect: You can learn the location of something someone secretly hid, something someone lost, or something hidden somewhere. In addition, you can teleport to the location of something one time.
However, upon activating the teleportation effect, all effects are immediately lost.]
[Description: A magic tool with infinite possibilities depending on how it is used.]
I activated the teleportation effect in order to enter the Arcana Continent.
Thanks to that, the Map.
That.
Communes had lost all its effects.
And yet.
Before activating the teleportation effect.
I had tried everything I could to get my money’s worth.
Wouldn’t it be possible to extract its effects, just in case?
I had even gone to see Kiko, the senior of Enchantment Studies.
‘Though there were no results.’
My expectations hadn’t been high, so I wasn’t disappointed.
Enchantment Studies, the department in charge of the Magic Tower’s deficits.
At the current level of Enchantment Studies, simply extracting an effect from a unique-grade item was something to be grateful for. If extracting an effect from an epic item were possible, that would make no sense.
‘Thanks to that, I used it with an even more desperate heart.’
Because I had gone through that effort, I had activated the teleportation effect without lingering regret. Which meant I had been able to use the Map.
That.
Communes to pinpoint the origin of the remaining five [Hexagram Brooches].
To be honest, when I first activated the effect, I was rather flustered.
—A place where even the sky howls, unable to bear the overflowing sorrow.
……
What was this, twenty questions? A riddle?
Because the answer the Map.
That.
Communes gave me did not immediately click.
But what helped was this damn loose mouth of mine.
—“The sky is howling.”
The [Tetfern Fence] rift.
My mouth, which had babbled that while looking at the sky packed with dark clouds.
I remembered forcing down the lament that I would sooner be the one howling than the sky.
Thanks to that, the moment I saw the [Dungeon: City of Melancholy Rain] generated in London, I realized it at once.
The place the Map.
That.
Communes had told me about was that very dungeon……!
As if to support my guess, a message appeared.
[The Hexagram Brooch is trembling.]
Indeed, it was worth setting foot on British soil for the first time in my life. Of course, it was impossible for these proud steps to move solely for the sake of satisfying self-interest.
Swaaaaa—
Beneath my umbrella, amid the pouring rain, I opened my mouth.
“It would be best for those without resistance to status abnormalities to leave the area as much as possible. I believe your words would be more helpful than mine in making them move.”
The pride of Britain, Second Sun.
Its leader, Shreig.
Naturally, his words would carry more weight than mine, someone who had come from South Korea.
Together with the realistic perspective of me, Lee Hoyeol.
“……Thank you.”
It was a statement that also considered Granfell’s pride-based perspective.
A statement that could set Shreig’s collapsed pride upright once more.
Shreig and the players quickly brought the situation under control.
“Everyone, get away from the rift, from the rain mist!”
“Reporting? This is not the time for that!”
“Damn it, I think we need to get them to a hospital right now!”
Amid the commotion, I looked at the rain mist.
The rift information floated before my eyes.
It was definitely a rift.
‘What exactly is the cause of the status abnormality?’
The most reasonable guess was, as expected, a demon.
However, the situation was different from everything up until now.
A rift was a space of the strange.
Until it collapsed, no matter what demon it was.
To put it bluntly, even if a high-ranking Demon King had revived.
It could not affect the outside of the rift.
“Inferior creatures would not possess such power.”
Well said, Granfell.
This was not a loose-tongued remark. If demons had possessed that sort of ability in the first place, they would never have gone through the trouble of possessing humans and acting the part to sneak into reality.
Therefore, there was only one possibility.
“The dungeon’s special nature, is it?”
Because it was a [Dungeon], it was affecting the outside of the rift as well.
The Arcana worldview really gets more absurd the further it goes.
A Holy War against demons.
As if it weren’t enough to worry about that one thing alone, now a duuuungeon?!
‘I sincerely want to believe this is a rare case.’
As if [Labyrinths] weren’t enough, now [Dungeons] too.
Above all, the biggest problem was that the citizens of London were trapped inside the rift. That was why I had hurriedly taken a portal over to London like this.
What an exhausting sense of noblesse oblige this is……
‘What meddling.’
Even without the dungeon rift, there had been so much to take care of, hadn’t there?
Most of all, I had vowed to make those annoying Shadows recognize their place.
However, Granfell’s mouth did not lose by a single word.
“On a rainy day, shadows do not exist.”
Swaaaaa—
“In the end, that is all they are.”
……
Thank goodness the sound of rain is loud.
I’m genuinely scared someone might hear that.
If interpreted, it meant the priorities were different.
In any case, he really does follow procedure impeccably.
But I had no desire to refute that heavy pride.
In truth, I thought the same.
It was already all I could do to deal with rifts and demons.
It had been a long time since I graduated from my days as an office worker rolling around in a filthy society.
Shadows or whatever else, I wanted to avoid annoying things.
While I was thinking that.
Shreig approached.
In one hand, an umbrella.
In the other, a paper cup with steam rising from it.
“I’m sorry that the situation doesn’t allow me to receive you properly……”
The green logo drawn on the paper cup was familiar.
Shreig held the paper cup out to me.
“I, um…… I had heard rumors that you liked tea. But I didn’t know what kind of tea you liked, so I prepared a safe Americano.”
Shreig continued.
“And I will do it.”
His eyes shone with determination.
“Please entrust me with guiding you through London. I beg you.”
The reason I had asked Shreig to guide me was simple.
Even if it was a dungeon, it was still a rift.
A space where reality and the Arcana Continent were mixed half-and-half. Naturally, if someone knew the geography of reality perfectly, it seemed like it would be a great help in clearing it.
I accepted the cup and replied.
“Thank you for making your decision.”
“No. Thank you, truly. For coming all the way here……”
“No, it is a burden I must rightfully bear.”
“……!”
To Shreig, who flinched, I asked calmly.
“Do you not know it as well?”
……
Please.
Do not preach noblesse oblige in the twenty-first century, Granfell.
At least it was fortunate that the word noble did not come out of my own mouth.
That aside.
I gazed at the Americano for a moment, then opened my mouth.
“Are you prepared?”
“Of course.”
“Then let us enter.”
……
Don’t urgently change the subject because you don’t want to drink it, Granfell.
Well, unless it were elixir herb tea, there was no way my palate, practically pickled in green tea bags, could accept an Americano. There is nothing like a warm Americano on a rainy day, though.
I deeply resent my changed palate.
Forcing myself to give up my lingering attachment, I moved my feet.
[You have entered the rift, “Dungeon: City of Melancholy Rain.”]
*
Swaaaaa—
Pouring rain.
The anchor’s voice was as clamorous as the sound of the rain.
The gazes of those watching were certainly directed toward the television screen.
—“Breaking news. Player Lee Hoyeol and Second Sun’s guild master, Shreig, are said to have entered the first dungeon rift generated in London. While nations around the world were expressing concern……”
Footage flashed past.
They should have felt that something was strange.
After all, the scenery in the footage was none other than their own place of residence.
London.
However.
Swaaaaaaa—
None of those listening to the pouring rain realized it.
Not the fact that the panorama being broadcast on the screen was London where they were trapped, inside the rift.
Nor even the fact that they had fallen into a status abnormality.
“……”
All they felt was helplessness and melancholy.
Britain, London.
No, those trapped in the [Dungeon: City of Melancholy Rain] were slowly sinking beneath the surface of the water. Into deep waters from which they could not escape no matter how much they struggled with their own strength.
*
Swaaaaaaa—
Watching the rain pour down.
I found myself thinking that formality could be helpful at times after all.
It meant that bringing this absurdly large long umbrella had been worthwhile. Look, not a single drop of rain had splashed onto my clothes. It was thanks to the posture that held the umbrella upright without the slightest tremor.
‘……No, this isn’t the time to be satisfied by such a trivial thing.’
I looked around.
Visibility was limited.
Through the thick rain mist, I could only faintly see the shapes of buildings.
In that sense, it was fortunate.
Shreig, who was also surveying the surroundings, said,
“Fortunately, London’s appearance seems to remain intact.”
As expected, when it comes to guides, a local guide is best.
Shreig and the Second Sun guild members quickly grasped the geography.
I also listened to the briefing they exchanged.
“The key is figuring out the location of the dungeon’s depths.”
Compared to other players, my experience in Arcana was woefully lacking.
Because of that, there wasn’t much I knew about dungeons.
Still, listening to their conversation, I slowly began to get a feel for it.
‘So we literally just need to find the depths?’
[Dungeons].
Dangerous places that, depending on their scale, could contain dozens of branching paths, hundreds of traps, and thousands of monsters. However, if one knew the location of the depths……
“Our goal is not experience points or spoils. Finding the depths as quickly as possible, subjugating the boss monster, and clearing the dungeon comes first!”
It meant that all other hindrances, such as monsters or traps, could be ignored. Of course, it would not be easy. The dense rain mist obstructing our vision did not seem like ordinary mist, after all.
“……But isn’t this strange?”
One of Second Sun’s guild members said that.
“It’s too quiet. Far too quiet.”
That was the sense of dissonance.
This was the inside of a rift that preserved London’s appearance exactly as it was.
And yet, for some reason, there was no sign of human presence.
No, to be precise……
“There are traces, but only the people are missing.”
Cars stopped with their engines still running.
Commercial buildings where the warmth of people could be felt.
Even umbrellas dropped here and there on the streets.
Everything remained as it was.
Only the people had vanished from sight.
The player’s voice gradually trembled as he continued.
“Where on earth did everyone disappear to in such a short time……?”
“There are no bloodstains or signs of attack.”
“Shreig, I’ve been trying to contact people since earlier…… Not a single person is picking up. The calls go through, but no one answers. Damn it, what the hell is this?!”
It was only natural for their emotions to waver.
Britain, the capital city of London.
Among those who had disappeared, it was only natural that there would be the players’ comrades or family members. Even if they tried not to show it, as human beings, they could not help it.
The atmosphere grew heavy once more.
So this is why it is called the [City of Melancholy Rain].
It tramples morale mercilessly the moment we enter.
However, I opened my mouth.
“There is no need for anyone to worry.”
“……?”
As I said, this was my first time setting foot on British soil.
Naturally, there was no way I could know anyone in Britain.
However, I—Granfell—was not speaking as if this were someone else’s business.
Yes, the pride in my heart was sincere.
And the words I spoke were utterly sincere as well.
Because I knew.
“This is not the true [City of Melancholy Rain].”
“……Pardon? What do you mean by that?”
“It seems we have been caught in a trap.”
“C-caught in a trap? No, that can’t be?!”
They would think that could not be possible.
Because all we had done was walk into the rain mist.
Into the rift.
“Can you be certain?”
“C-certain?”
“This is a dungeon, a space where not a single rule is fixed.”
“……!”
Someone who knew my inner circumstances would say this.
You didn’t even know what the dungeon’s depths were until just a moment ago, yet you certainly speak brazenly.
Indeed, I could not refute it.
Even I, who was wearing this ridiculously thick iron mask, could not help but be impressed by it.
However, one does not necessarily need knowledge in order to notice something.
At times, shamelessness is useful in actual battle.
The reason I was able to see through the trap was simple.
—“Hiel.”
The moment I murmured it, mana had clearly left me.
However, Hiel’s figure was nowhere to be seen.
The meaning of that was simple.
This place was indeed inside the rift, and Hiel had indeed been summoned, but between Hiel and me, there existed an invisible “something.”
A wall.
Knowing that fact, I put my head to work a little.
Why?
Why had everything remained exactly the same, but only the people had disappeared without a trace?
The answer to that could be found in the pouring “rain.”
No, to be precise, in the puddles of rainwater gathered on the ground.
That was right.
The wall blocking the way between Hiel and me was the water’s surface.
I neatly folded my umbrella and lifted my head.
“……?”
Shreig and the players followed me and raised their heads to look at the sky.
What they witnessed was another view of London reflected in the sky.
Soon, their shocked voices rang out.
“……Wh-what is that? London is in the sky like a mirror?!”
“It’s the same. But there are people over there!!”
“What, is that true?!”
Hiel was looking at me from the other side.
The sky and the ground.
Which side was above the surface, and which was below.
At present, I could not know.
However, one fact was certain.
Drip.
I wiped away the rainwater flowing down from the tip of my chin.
“I shall sternly question you for the responsibility of making my clothes wet.”
If water was the problem, then all I had to do was get rid of every last drop of that water.
Of course, evaporating the pouring rain was impossible.
Even with mana overflowing, it was impossible with 『magic』 alone.
So I transmitted telepathy to Hiel.
Water becomes nourishment for “plants.”
Yes.
It was time to display the unique spirit Hiel’s {Nature} ability.