◈ Episode 184. Let Us Skip the Tea
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Spacetime Socializing: Ritual, enter the Spacetime Social Hall.
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If I had been an ordinary class.
I would have grumbled, What kind of skill effect is this?
It was an effect so unfriendly it was downright abstruse.
‘The Spacetime Social Hall, huh.’
But what was my class?
The final boss of unfriendliness, Demon Hunter.
On top of that, I had prior knowledge gained through experience.
Tempered as I was, I could make a rough guess.
‘If it’s a ritual, maybe it’s similar to the Exorcism Ritual.’
A ritual.
Thinking of the Exorcism Ritual, it wasn’t particularly far-fetched.
Within the Exorcism Ritual, even the flow of time moved separately.
‘If the Exorcism Ritual is a ritual only Demon Hunters and demons can enter… does that mean the Spacetime Social Hall is a ritual only Transcendents can enter?’
Thinking of it that way made my shoulders tense for no reason.
It felt like I had become some kind of VIP, something like that.
And yet, I couldn’t help but flinch.
‘In any case, the words I spit out really do end up coming true.’
I had spoken to Harkon with no small amount of bravado.
Would you trust me, I had asked.
As I said, even though I didn’t have so much as a speck of a solution.
But now that I had acquired [Spacetime Socializing].
It meant I had found the one possible choice that could make those words come true.
The Spacetime Social Hall.
There, I might encounter the Sword Saint.
Shegwin, a Transcendent just like me.
[Quest: Useless Deeds]
Shegwin regarded demon hunting as a useless deed.
Speak with Shegwin,
and determine the truth behind his actions.
─Encounter Shegwin. (In Progress)
Not only the quest left behind by the Quirnberg Machine Tower.
─Defend Antonium. (In Progress)
Perhaps I might even be able to succeed at the main quest objective.
But I had far too little information.
Above all, because I knew there were bound to be rules, I could not move rashly.
‘Just like the Exorcism Ritual, rules must exist.’
The rules of the Exorcism Ritual were, well, simple.
The superior mental strength dominated everything within the ritual.
But this was a ritual only Transcendents could enter.
The rules could not possibly be that simple.
Honestly, I wanted to search the internet if I could…
But there was no way related information would exist.
“No social engagement is more important than work.”
Yes, yes, of course not.
The leave of absence I submitted was only to the Magic Tower.
The documents piled atop the desk in the Yusra Kingdom office were a separate matter, said Lord Granfell.
As I was looking through those documents, I flinched.
‘Are these materials from the AAU…?’
Because there was a particular phrase that caught my eye.
[Veteran Community].
Only after reading the contents carefully did I realize it.
…
This is talking about the 『Spacetime Social Hall』, isn’t it?!
Thanks to that, I learned.
The Spacetime Social Hall.
The rules of the ritual.
And so, I had no hesitation.
Evening, after the sun had set.
I stood before the mirror.
I put on [Duke Swalin’s Treasured Possession].
I straightened my attire and aligned my brooch. Was I dressing up just because I was entering a social hall? If someone asked, I could answer firmly.
“It is not exactly a welcome affair.”
…
A mortifying setting surfaced after a long time.
『The heir of a great house. In past high society, Granfell’s existence was like an oasis in the desert, or perhaps a mirage. As he did not enjoy social gatherings, there were not many days when he showed himself. Yet on the days he appeared out of nowhere, he inevitably drew every eye upon him…』
Seriously.
My hands and feet were curling up so hard I wanted to cut them off…!
Even when I tried to be generous and understand it, I couldn’t.
You could have just said he was popular.
You could have ended it simply, couldn’t you?
Why is it so specific and full of details!
‘He does not even realize the fact that he draws attention, but in truth, he is admired by so many that they could be called followers…’
The stormy period of adolescence.
It could only be a setting filled with blatant desire.
I’m so embarrassed I can barely even look in the mirror.
Of course.
Granfell was as shameless as ever.
Before long, I was speaking calmly.
“However, if it cannot be avoided, one must enjoy it.”
Please, stop.
Then I prayed desperately.
Please, let my dark history not be reenacted.
*
Click—
A sound rang through the hall.
Everyone’s gazes gathered.
Because they all had a guess as to whom the unfamiliar presence belonged.
The Sword Saint, Shegwin’s eyebrows twitched.
‘The one who cast a High-Ranking Demon King down into hell.’
A High-Ranking Demon King.
Even he himself.
No, even the Transcendents gathered here would not dare oppose such an existence beyond all standards. That was right. The owner of this presence was someone who had cast such a High-Ranking Demon King into hell alone.
‘I saw it, and still could not believe it.’
Those who evaluated the qualifications of a new Transcendent were the existing Transcendents gathered here.
Because of that, the Transcendents confirmed the achievement that had reached the Spacetime Social Hall after a long absence, and were astonished.
Then they cast their votes in favor.
An unprecedented unanimous approval.
‘To think someone with such ability remained on the continent.’
So this was the vast Arcana Continent?
Shegwin was even more shocked than he had been by the news that the elves had revealed themselves.
The birth of such a Transcendent alone was an astonishing event.
Yet the fact that he had immediately come to the social hall was also unexpected.
Someone spoke about him.
“It took some people years just to enter, you know.”
The Spacetime Social Hall.
This was not a space that actually existed.
It was a space governed by a ritual, and one had to realize its existence and approach it on one’s own.
Furthermore, even if one realized that fact.
‘It is not easy to dare enter.’
It would not be easy to set foot into a space where Transcendents of a similar level to oneself.
Or even higher, were present.
Of course, mutual hostile acts were prohibited within the social hall.
‘In truth, putting the rules aside.’
As one could see, unless there were special circumstances, the Transcendents did not exchange words with one another.
They could each guess, to some extent, one another’s personalities and abilities.
Each of them knew well that nothing good would come from causing a dispute.
‘However, one cannot know that without experiencing it.’
Shegwin himself had learned the rule through experience. He had been provoked, drawn his sword in the social hall, and had been expelled straight out of the ritual.
“A new arrival with quite impressive confidence.”
That was right.
Entering so quickly that it felt rash was itself an expression of confidence.
More than anything, it was clear from the dignified footsteps drawing closer.
Click—
Before long, under everyone’s attention.
The new Transcendent appeared in the social hall.
A chandelier on the ceiling shone brilliantly.
Beneath it, far from losing his presence.
His silver hair instead gave off a faint radiance.
Indeed, the silver-haired man showed not the slightest trace of intimidation.
‘He grasps the situation quickly. Then was that achievement truly real?’
‘He is not even wearing equipment.’
‘…More importantly, what region’s attire is that?’
It was clothing they had never seen on the continent.
And yet it did not feel alien.
The upper and lower garments clung moderately to him, suiting the man as though they were his skin.
On top of that, the accessories he wore emitted a presence that was not excessive. By appearance alone, the man was already more than enough to focus everyone’s gaze upon him.
And had he not also possessed the overwhelming achievement, even among Transcendents, of defeating a High-Ranking Demon King? Perhaps because of that, there was even an illusion that a halo shone behind the man.
But what was most astonishing of all.
“…!”
Was that the man’s movements were natural.
No matter that it was a ritual space, what could be seen and felt was no different from reality.
It would have been only natural for his gaze to be stolen by this luxurious and grand social hall, the likes of which could not be seen on the Arcana Continent…
Click—
The man did not properly glance at any of it.
As though it were exceedingly familiar to him.
He began walking across the social hall.
The sound of minds turning could be heard from here and there.
‘If he finds a place like this familiar, he must be a noble or royalty. Yet there is no way I would fail to recognize a figure of that level…?’
‘A being who stimulates curiosity. Just how transcendent is his martial might for him to have dealt with a High-Ranking Demon King alone?’
‘No, that is beyond familiarity…’
…
Was he not utterly unhesitating?
The small murmur.
Could only gradually turn into suspicion.
It was clearly his first visit to the Spacetime Social Hall.
And yet.
As though he saw through everything.
As though he had a purpose.
The man did not hesitate.
The minds that had been turning paused.
‘I would like to avoid him if possible.’
What if the man’s purpose had something to do with them?
They absolutely did not want to get entangled.
If this place were the Arcana Continent, perhaps it would have been different.
‘Because I would have been able to gauge the gap.’
But there were the rules of the social hall, which could not be defied.
All hostile acts between one another were prohibited.
Because of that, in this place, one could not guess the other party’s full strength or martial power.
It would be more accurate to say the concept did not even exist, and so it could not even be felt.
‘Even if it cannot be felt, there is an achievement.’
‘An achievement at a level no one else has ever established.’
‘The first unanimous approval.’
Click—
On the man’s path.
Concern began to gather alongside interest.
Then the man took a seat.
So for what reason had he sought out the Spacetime Social Hall?
Amid the tension.
Every gaze waited only for the man’s lips to part…
…
Dammit.
My dark history never abandoned me.
Lord Granfell, who supposedly had not even the slightest interest in high society, remained completely unfazed.
But I could feel the gazes pouring down on me.
‘…I really can’t live with you, past me.’
What, an oasis and mirage of high society?!
With this much attention pouring in.
How does it make any sense that you don’t know it yourself, seriously!!
Click—
I guarantee it.
To me, this social hall was more burdensome than any rift.
Not only was this a dark history I could feel on my body like never before.
I could also tell at a glance that the people here were no ordinary figures.
‘Their equipment alone is screaming that they’re veterans.’
[Veteran Community].
That was how it was specified in the information sent by the AAU. They said it was only a temporary name because it was merely an idea, but from the concept alone, I could tell at a glance.
[Veteran Community: Including NPCs. A special place for ultra-high-level players who possess certain qualifications. The rules are as follows…]
If you simply inserted “Transcendent” into those certain qualifications?
‘It was no different from the Spacetime Social Hall.’
As expected of the AAU.
Just as Granfell had said, I thought they truly were people who studied fragments of the Creator, but…
‘…Why did it have to be a social hall, of all things?’
At the same time, resentment surged within me.
In any case, if possible, let’s not stop walking.
And let’s not glance around for no reason either.
‘At times like this, it does help.’
A posture that was upright anywhere.
Thanks to that, I took a seat in a luxurious chair without paying any mind to the pouring gazes.
Then I looked at the message that naturally appeared.
[Currently Orderable Menu]
According to the rules.
All facilities in the Spacetime Social Hall were free. If Arcana had still been nothing more than a game, I would have thought of it as a service for veterans and moved on without thinking too much.
But the more you knew, the more you saw.
Now I felt like I understood the reason.
‘Because there’s no substance.’
A ritual.
In the end, nothing that existed here had substance.
So they provided it for free, probably.
Could a cat pass by a fish shop, or a sparrow by a mill? I—Granfell—examined the message. Something free did not clash with integrity and innocence, was the point.
By the way.
“Mm.”
Do not be so blatantly crestfallen, Granfell.
There is no way green tea exists in a place like this.
Let alone green tea in a teabag.
[You have canceled your order.]
…
Right, and what tea at a time like this?
I have a clear purpose for coming to the social hall, don’t I?
I delayed no further.
Within the vast social hall.
Deep blue hair.
Bright blue eyes.
I looked at the Sword Saint, Shegwin.
And opened my mouth.
“Shegwin.”
He had surrounded Antonium.
As if that were not enough, he had destroyed the Quirnberg Machine Tower.
It was an act in which not even the slightest trace of pride could be found.
Naturally, there was no way gentle words would come from my mouth.
“I shall ask you.”
“…?”
“Do you know your sin?”
“…!”
…
Even so, to suddenly throw a fastball straight down the middle.
You are definitely on edge because there was no green tea on the menu, Granfell.
But I could not take back words already spoken.
“From now on, think wisely before you answer.”
I continued in a voice colder than ever.
“Depending on your answer, I will decide your punishment.”
“!!!”