◈ Episode 188. I Won't Forget This Debt
Long story short, it was simple.
“……Now that’s what I call training.”
Not even the effects of the [First World Tree’s Blessing] could offset it.
If you abused your body to the point where even the world’s Grangpel couldn’t put up a front.
That was precisely what it meant to surpass one’s limits through training!
I was truly shocked on so many levels.
No matter how you packaged it as surpassing limits or whatever, the secret to a Demon Hunter’s strength was ultimately just grinding, right? Your consistency is truly shocking.
Grangpel, you’re the same.
You abuse your body to the point where even the World Tree buff can’t recover it.
What?
Now it feels like training?
Then what the hell have I been doing all this time?!
‘I’m hurt, I really am.’
But more shocking than anything was the message.
[Additional rewards have been granted for surpassing your limits through training.]
I had seen similar messages before.
My stat points had increased by one or two extra points, hadn’t they?
Even that alone had been an enormous bonus reward.
Since a single stat point was worth one level.
But.
[You have acquired the ability, ‘Obsession’.]
This time was different.
Because an entire stat had been unlocked.
Like
[Aesthetics]
had done, the moment I acquired it.
The effect of ‘Obsession’ engraved itself into my vision and mind.
[Obsession: Converts mental strength into ability stats. Each time Obsession increases, the converted ability stats additionally increase.]
I couldn’t help but flinch the moment I saw it.
This is on the level of a Demon Hunter exclusive stat?!
Why am I making so many bold claims today…….
I dare say there’s no one in Arcana with stronger mental strength than a Demon Hunter.
Because those with weak mental strength couldn’t survive in Akshan.
‘It was the same back in the day.’
As if endless grinding quests weren’t enough.
The Demon Hunter’s training method was closer to a horror game than an RPG. There was no reason to stubbornly stick to the Demon Hunter class while leaving behind all of Arcana’s other content.
‘Hell, even I would have quit.’
If I hadn’t been forced to quit Arcana.
Then my chuunibyou would have naturally been cured, and I would have parted ways with Grangpel.
Wouldn’t I have created a new account and raised that instead?
‘If we’re being precise……’
This time too, I suppose I skipped the intermediate process.
To acquire [Obsession]
through normal means.
It seemed like tremendous training would be necessary.
To the point of training your body even in hell.
But where would this shamelessness go?
Even at this very moment.
I spoke to the Demon Hunter who hadn’t stopped doing push-ups.
“Now we stand on equal footing.”
And then I resumed my push-ups.
Indeed, I could feel the effect of the new stat [Obsession]
.
“I’m still going strong.”
Mental strength surpassing even that of a Demon Hunter.
I could feel Grangpel’s mental strength supporting his body.
Because it wasn’t just my imagination—a message popped up.
[Strength temporarily increases due to the effect of Obsession.]
I squeezed my muscles and checked the numbers.
[Strength: 112 → 162]
……No, but what the hell is this.
Even if it’s temporary, my Strength went up by 50 points?!
It was a number so shocking it made my muscles cramp.
And no wonder.
Even if Grangpel’s mental strength wasn’t at an ordinary human level…….
[Obsession: 1]
I had just acquired [Obsession], and its points were only 1.
As the description stated.
The converted ability stats were affected by the [Obsession] value.
‘Then how much will it increase later?’
I couldn’t help but be shocked.
What kind of nonsensical efficiency was this?
Was the effect of [Obsession]
fraudulent?
Or was Grangpel’s mental strength fraudulent?
There was no way to know right now.
But one thing was certain.
‘For the time being, all level-up points are going into Obsession.’
It went without saying.
No matter how great Grangpel’s mental strength was, he couldn’t overcome the gap in stats. In the end, I soaked my shirt with sweat until my undershirt showed through before I finally spoke.
“That was a good match.”
A good matchhhh?
There’s no more foolish match in the world than this, Grangpel.
You must feel great about defeating your only junior, you must.
“…….”
Only then did the Demon Hunter stop his push-ups and rise from his spot.
Fwoosh—At that, the flames of hell began to coil around his body.
“…….”
No fraternizing.
You really follow the regulations to the very end.
Just like at the beginning, there was no greeting.
But I clearly witnessed it.
‘?’
The corner of his mouth visible beneath his hood.
The corner of his lips was definitely turned upward.
He was definitely smiling.
‘……Was he just mocking me?’
He’s showing off because he won, isn’t he?!
Yeah, I’m grateful he helped me realize [Obsession].
But he suddenly started doing push-ups.
And in the end, he left with a sneer.
Our Akshan seniors sure have some character!
But then again, I wasn’t about to take it lying down either.
“There are times when words aren’t needed to get a point across.”
……No, since I had to take it a step further.
As the Demon Hunter returned to the flames of hell.
I declared to his back.
“Next time, I’ll repay this debt, Demon Hunter.”
……I truly lost to you, Grangpel.
*Demon Castle of Tears.
Ranked 56th.
The Demon King, Gremory, dabbed at the corners of her eyes.
A wistful voice settled over the gathering.
“With no peers above or below me, I am lonely.”
Above, Rank 55.
Below, the throne of Rank 57.
I had thought their vacancies would be filled through the Demon King contest.
But an unexpected variable had arisen.
The revival of Akshan.
And the death of the high-ranking Demon King, Gamigin.
Gremory spoke.
“What do you think?”
“……Y-yes?”
The one receiving the Demon King’s question was a human.
Neither fallen nor a demon worshipper, just an ordinary human.
Simply the count who had once been the master of this small castle.
The man broke into a cold sweat.
‘……I must answer, I must answer well.’
As he resolved himself, Gremory spoke in a whisper.
“Look me straight in the eyes.”
“……!”
The man raised his head and met Gremory’s gaze.
And despaired.
‘How can you be so cruel to me……!’
It felt like a trial sent by a goddess.
How could that vicious demon who destroyed my territory and slaughtered my people, my vassals, my blood kin so horribly appear as an incomparably beautiful woman?
The man barely held onto his sanity and answered.
“……Forgive me for saying so, but I believe it would be impossible unless Akshan has truly been revived.”
“Mmm, I suppose so.”
Gremory puffed out her cheeks.
Sagging, pale pink hair and radiant skin.
And her lively expression.
Were so charming that no one would suspect her of being a Demon King.
“But even so, I still don’t understand.”
Gremory’s gaze turned to the man.
“Did you know? The offerings for Lord Gamigin were unintentionally far more abundant than usual. Thanks to all the demons who participated in the Demon King contest dying and becoming offerings.”
To put it precisely, in addition to the scheduled offerings.
Gamigin had manifested by using twelve more demons bearing Demon King-level True Names as offerings.
Gremory had witnessed such majesty of Gamigin herself.
“Our foolish and dull-witted Lord Gamigin.”
The man doubted his ears.
‘……Foolish and dull-witted?’
The existence of a hierarchy among Demon Kings.
Was something he had learned recently while conversing with Gremory.
He had also learned that the power of high-ranking Demon Kings was of a different caliber.
Gremory slowly opened one eye.
“You must be thinking it’s a disrespectful way to address him, no?”
“N-no!”
“It’s fine. A lowly human couldn’t understand.”
“……Y-yes.”
Those ranked up to 10th are classified as high-ranking Demon Kings.
Even among Demon Kings, the way they were treated was unusual. Gremory was on the better side; most Demon Kings treated the high-ranking ones like tools.
Because they were beings with whom not even words could get through, were they not?
“To be used until the very end and ultimately be thrown into hell…… I simply feel gloomy over that pitiful end.”
“……I see.”
Gulp.
The man swallowed dryly without realizing it.
Was this what it felt like to be charmed by a demon?
He knew everything about that demon was pretense and falsehood.
But looking at Gremory pretending to be pitiable, compassion truly sprouted in his heart.
Gremory wiped her eyes with her finger and spoke.
“But not everything is sad. There are those who will move for us, driven to the edge of a cliff like this.”
One of them was the Sword Saint, Shegwin.
Gremory couldn’t forget the sight of Shegwin she had glimpsed through the Demonic Eye not long ago.
The momentum emanating from that decrepit human was beyond imagination.
“Truly grateful yet pitiful beings.”
Yet ultimately, he was human.
A lowly human dying day by day, unlike herself.
In that sense, Shegwin could be considered clever.
To step forward and abandon his humanity, walking the path of corruption.
Gremory curled up the corner of her lips.
‘Some Demon Kings must have regretted it.’
Even if he was decrepit, Shegwin’s body was the finest vessel for possession.
Of course, Gremory had no interest in human bodies.
……Gulp.
Behold.
To the point of salivating at the sight of one’s enemy.
Because her flesh was already perfect as it was.
“I, Gremory, am sad.”
Gremory rose from her seat and headed to the window.
The night sky with the Demonic Eye open.
Soon, Gremory’s eyes turned pitch black.
Then the vision of the Demonic Eye burrowed into her mind.
‘I cannot read your intentions, Shegwin.’
Retreating from the imperial capital, Antonium?
It was a decision utterly impossible to understand.
Even Gremory, who was unaccustomed to war, thought so.
There was no need to check the other Demon Kings’ reactions; they were obvious.
‘Everyone is watching your movements.’
In that sense, Shegwin’s destination was unexpected.
He had killed useless nobles and gained enlightenment in handling demonic power.
Who would have thought he would leave the empire swarming with humans and head for the mountain range?
Gremory’s lips twisted.
“……Surely he isn’t trying to imitate humans?”
Even if he were, it would be meaningless.
But it hardly mattered.
Even if corrupted, his essence was still a lowly human.
“You need only light the way ahead.”
The spectacle witnessed through Gamigin’s Demonic Eye.
-“Akshan has returned.”
The shivers from that moment were indescribable.
It felt as though the terror forgotten since Akshan’s annihilation was reviving.
The revival of Akshan.
The culprit behind it could be easily surmised.
The silver-haired Demon Hunter.
The man who had appeared out of nowhere on the continent of Arcana had vanished without a trace that day, along with millions of demons.
It was a fact confirmed clearly through the Demonic Eye as well.
‘But he must truly have been revived.’
To think he threw Lord Gamigin into hell.
There could be no clearer proof of his revival.
Gremory turned away from the window.
“That is why we can only hide so pitifully.”
Immediately after Gamigin was thrown into hell.
The Demon Kings set out to find Akshan.
Now that he had fought a bloody battle with Gamigin.
They judged it the perfect opportunity to crush the revived Akshan.
But they simply couldn’t find him.
‘Where in the world is that place?’
An incomparably alien landscape.
Nowhere on the continent of Arcana could they find that same place, Akshan, or the silver-haired Demon Hunter.
Even borrowing the vision of the Demonic Eye.
As expected of Akshan.
“To think his mere appearance sent shivers down my spine?”
But time was on their side anyway.
Even if Gamigin had been thrown into hell, nine high-ranking Demon Kings still remained.
Well, though it was unfortunate, they couldn’t ignore the great evils either.
Among them, Shegwin’s role was merely that of a scout.
Akshan or the silver-haired Demon Hunter.
He was bait to make them reveal themselves once more.
For wasn’t Akshan known to rush in indiscriminately at the sight of demons?
Until they bit the openly thrown bait.
They only needed to wait.
“In that sense, the Zero Mountain Range isn’t a bad choice either, Shegwin.”
*Thursday.
Regular update.
Tension hung in the air at AAU for the first time in a while.
“Please, let it be something reasonable this time.”
Seong Hyeonjun reverently clasped his hands together and prayed.
“May our Chief Director enjoy his vacation properly!”
“You’re even worse than me these days, aren’t you?”
“Senior, you should hurry and pray too. If you wish for something earnestly, it’ll come true.”
“Oh, please.”
“Only Homen……”
Click—Yun Sugyeom let out a faint laugh and hammered the refresh button.
Then he spoke to Seong Hyeonjun, who was still muttering.
“At the very least, it won’t be an update related to demons.”
“You think so?”
“They must have suffered major losses in the struggle over the demons too. More than anything, if there was a complete victory, shouldn’t there be a complete defeat as well? At the very least, they won’t be able to run rampant on a massive scale like they did during the struggle.”
In other words, as long as they weren’t demon-type monsters boasting levels on an entirely different scale, there was no need for Hoyeol to step in personally.
At those words, Seong Hyeonjun began praying a little more specifically.
“Then please, just let it not be demon-type monsters……!”
“But who are you praying to, exactly?”
“……
God, or Buddha, I guess?”
“Is that so? But if you think about it, shouldn’t Raymon Sean be the one listening to the prayers?”
“Wait, then I take it back! As if I’d be crazy enough to pray to that bastard!!”
But had the prayer already reached Raymon Sean?
Click—the moment the Arcana official website refreshed.
The regular update details appeared.
No one could say who said it first.
AAU’s Korea Branch.
No, the same word burst out from every branch.
“Th-the Zero Mountains!!”
The symbol of Arcana Continent Biography.
The Zero Mountains were being added as a new region?
Color returned to Seong Hyeonjun’s face.
“S-senior. Isn’t this a good thing? If the Zero Mountains are being added as a region, then players won’t have to worry about hunting grounds, at least!”
The vast Zero Mountains had content for everyone, from low-level to high-level players.
In particular, the Hundred Thousand Caves held quite a number of valuable items slumbering within.
“……
That’s the problem.”
“Huh? What’s the problem?”
A problem?
Seong Hyeonjun was bewildered by the unexpected answer, but only for a moment.
Yun Sugyeom continued in a trembling voice.
“The problem is that it’s way too big!”
Tatadak!
At the same time, hurried footsteps rang out.
It was the branch manager, Park Minjae.
Park Minjae shouted without preamble.
“Everyone, start calculating!”
“Calculating? What are you talking about all of a sudden……?”
“What, Seong Hyeonjun still hasn’t grasped the situation?”
Yun Sugyeom spoke in Park Minjae’s stead.
“Hyeonjun, do you remember the size of the Zero Mountains?”
“Of course. They’re huge enough for dragons to live at the summit……?!”……
Wait.
If those Zero Mountains appeared in reality.
What would the aftermath be?
It would be a tectonic shift that had never existed in Earth’s history.
If the Zero Mountains rose up in a specific country.
That country might disappear from the map forever.
Even if they rose from the sea…….
Yun Sugyeom said,
“That’s right. A natural disaster on an entirely different dimension would follow.”
“……!!!”
How on earth were they supposed to prepare for that?
This was a completely different problem from a rift.
They had to stop a natural disaster on the level of Earth’s destruction.
Someone muttered,
“How could anyone do that unless it really was magic…….”
“……?!!”……
Wait, magic?
At those words, everyone inevitably thought of them.
The beings capable of stopping a cataclysmic natural disaster....
“You did say it. That there is give and take in all things.”
Marcelo picked up his quill pen.
Scratch, scratch—he wrote neatly across the parchment.
“I will put those words into practice, sir.”──────As of this hour, departure from the Tower is hereby fully authorized.──────The purpose is salvation in return for salvation.──────All personnel of the Magic Tower are to assemble.──────Chief Acting Lee Hoyeol, Marcelo Simuard.──────