◈ Episode 192. Gift (2)
I had heard and known about the forging of Gwicheol, but… ‘They were making armor for me, too?’ Hiel relayed what the dwarves had said about it.
“They were concerned about the master of the mountain range.”
So, to put it simply.
The dwarves knew full well how strong a dragon was.
They were saying they would forge equipment for me so I wouldn’t meet a sudden, tragic end while facing a dragon. ‘To be honest, even if that weren’t the case.’ My gaze naturally dropped to my outfit.
There was no equipment that both satisfied Granfel’s exacting aesthetic standards and had outstanding performance.
So, against my will, I had been going around in a suit with only some roughly added enchantment effects… ‘I’m totally grateful!’
Armor made by dwarves.
That was equipment you couldn’t buy even with money!
Above all, there was no need to worry about aesthetics.
Hiel would be the one inspecting the equipment, after all.
Hiel’s appearance, so similar to Granfel that he could be called his double.
And… ‘…his fashion sense.’
Enough to put even the Spirit King to shame.
In some ways, his attire could be said to be even more than Granfel’s.
Since the dwarves were making it, there was no need to worry about performance.
That meant there was only one problem. ‘The level restriction.’
Thinking that way, I became grateful for the appearance of the Zero Mountains.
[Appropriate Level: Not recommended for anyone]
In the Zero Mountains, I would be able to gain experience according to my abilities. Of course, the problem was that even I didn’t know exactly how far my abilities went.
Once again, I felt the harmful effects of advance learning…!
The intermediate process I had skipped over entirely.
Thanks to that, whether it was Sword Aura or circles, I didn’t know the exact limits of my abilities.
At least with circles, the system told me their effects.
It was hard to gauge the exact effect of Sword Aura. ‘In the end, Granfel’s words are becoming reality again.’
Pride and the Zero Mountains.
Hadn’t he said to see which stood higher?
Perhaps the time had truly come for me to clash against my limits, understand my place, and raise my level.
I would have to steel myself to devote the entire day to hunting, just like players such as Nam Taemin, Hisagi, and Leoni.
“Lastly, there is news regarding Gwicheol.”
In that sense, Gwicheol.
Please don’t betray my expectations.
But the words that followed from Hiel’s mouth.
Were more than enough to make me gape in shock.
Seriously!
How is everyone’s personality like that?
You guys…?
To think it was still locked in a war of nerves with the dwarves’ greatest blacksmith.
Walswale.
Was that why it was called ego equipment?
If Hiel was the spitting image of Granfel’s appearance and aesthetic sense,
Diend was his dark history.
And Gwicheol felt like the spitting image of Granfel’s stubbornness.
For a moment, something surged up in me. ‘What are you, the three hopeless brothers?’
But then, I was the one who combined all three of them. ‘…In the end, I’m spitting in my own face.’
Let’s just stop.
Anyway, what did you say just now, Hiel?
As if imitating Gwicheol’s words, Hiel continued.
“It must become even sharper. It must cut the star in the sky, the Demon Eye. The whetstones of the earth are not enough. It says it must be tempered with a whetstone that fell from the sky, the ‘Milky Way Whetstone’…”
Milky Way Whetstone?
I thought I had heard of it somewhere.
That’s the magic tool Shegwin was looking for, isn’t it?
In exchange for lending his strength to the rebels, he had been promised the Milky Way Whetstone stored in Antonium’s warehouse. Shegwin had confessed everything with his own mouth. ‘What are you, Gwicheol.’
…How do you know about such a high-class magic tool?
Well, I could ask about that later.
If one had any sense, this much was obvious.
The Milky Way Whetstone.
It seemed to be an extraordinary magic tool, enough that Shegwin had not targeted it for nothing. According to Hiel, even the dwarves seemed to know about the Milky Way Whetstone.
A shadow fell over Hiel’s face.
“Since it demanded a magic tool passed down only in legend, Walswale also seemed troubled. If my lord gives the order, I intend to try persuading Gwicheol through Diend. What are your thoughts, my lord?”
Di-Diend is going to persuade who?!
I don’t even hope for that.
No, I’m afraid Gwicheol will get influenced by that guy, too.
Please just tell him not to step forward, Hiel.
But I did not reveal my dizzying inner thoughts.
I merely recited shamelessly.
“There is no need for concern, Hiel.”
“…My lord?”
“The Milky Way Whetstone. I know its whereabouts.”
“…My lord!”
As if he had known that would be the case.
Please don’t look at me with eyes full of emotion and faith, Hiel.
Still, I was relieved that I could resolve it after talking big.
After all, my influence and relationship with Antonium had reached the maximum.
Just as in the Magic Tower, borrowing a magic tool should not be difficult.
I said to Hiel,
“Convey this to Antonium.”
“Hiel shall obey your words.”
A formal request to borrow the Milky Way Whetstone.
Soon, Hiel gave a respectful bow and returned to the Arcana Continent.
Now then, I couldn’t just sit idle either, could I? ‘I have to raise it as much as possible.’
To make sure the new equipment did not become a pie in the sky, I needed a level, and more than that, a larger vessel. And the optimal place for that had appeared.
“The Zero Mountains.”
The Zero Mountains, whose width was similar to Australia.
Its height easily pierced through the stratosphere. Since something like that had suddenly risen up, the statement that 80 percent of Earth would have been submerged in water if the Magic Tower had not stepped in now hit me anew.
“So it is that high and vast a stage.”
In that sense, it might have become quite a tiresome matter.
Entering the Zero Mountains.
And immediately clashing with monsters and starting a hunt.
Because I was different from other players. ‘I can’t ignore a gap of over ten years.’
The last demon hunter.
Thanks to that, I was well-versed in knowledge about demons.
But it was true that I lacked knowledge about ordinary monsters.
“Appropriate corporal punishment may be necessary.”
…Granfel was saying it so easily, as if he were training some animal instead of talking about monsters. But the monsters of the Zero Mountains were absolutely not to be taken lightly.
Even the Explorers’ League under heaven had never set foot on the middle slopes of the Zero Mountains.
That said it all.
But I was not who I had been in the past.
I was not Lee Hoyeol, who searched for information on the internet and whined at the search results. I was the general manager of AAU’s Yusra branch, and there was information I had learned thanks to the weight I bore.
“The Hundred Thousand Caves.”
Literally, one hundred thousand caves.
Since, in the setting, the Zero Mountains could have served as the stage until the very end of the Arcana Continent Chronicle, it seemed the planned content alone had been immense. ‘One hundred thousand caves.’
[Dungeons], [Battlefields], [Labyrinths], [Colosseums], and so on.
They had said each cave possessed special attributes.
It wouldn’t be wrong to view it as one hundred thousand pieces of content.
Of course, the Cataclysm had erupted before development was finished.
The information on the Hundred Thousand Caves existing within AAU was only an extremely small portion. ‘Even an extremely small portion is something.’
Moreover, unlike in the past, didn’t I have allies bound together by pride?
Just as I had led them before demons.
Before ordinary monsters, I could follow behind them.
That’s right, Granfel.
The give-and-take you like so much.
It’s what they call mutual aid.
However.
“[AAU’s information]. And the realized 『Zero Mountains』.”
Granfel’s assignment of meaning went one step ahead of mine.
If he were wrong, I would refute him.
But while it was excessively grandiose,
the problem was that it was also right.
“In the end, this too must be an anomaly.”
Yes, this time again, it was that damn anomaly.
And this time again, it was pride.
I immediately manifested a portal.
The coordinates were the Zero Mountains that had appeared overnight.
Stepping into the portal, I recited,
“When it comes to anomalies, there is likely no one ahead of me.”
Clack—
“I shall light the path, so you may follow as much as you wish.”
*
Gooooo—
The highest-ranking mage of the Empire, Nash William.
When Nash manifested his mana, the firmly closed imperial warehouse opened.
Imperial knights swiftly entered the warehouse.
“Mm.”
Gnaw—
Nash bit his fingernail.
How on earth did he know? ‘The existence of the Milky Way Whetstone, which even I didn’t know about…’
As one could see, the imperial warehouse was filled with treasures.
What region and what era the treasures sleeping in the warehouse were from—
even the emperors who owned them did not know properly.
Nash looked at the sealing magic circle of the warehouse. ‘Could he perhaps have seen through that magic circle…?’
Then he shook his head. ‘No, that can’t be.’
It was a magic circle manifested by none other than the “Archmage.”
From the era when the Empire was founded until now,
it was a magic circle that had never once been seen through, an advanced spell to the point one could assert that even if the Empire were destroyed, the warehouse alone could not be opened. ‘The only reason I can interfere with the magic circle is because I made a covenant with the Empire…’
As he pondered, Nash’s eyes shone with determination. ‘Brother Bensh, it seems I am a mage who cannot hide his true nature after all.’
A surging desire to investigate the unknown.
Nash made up his mind. ‘I have to ask.’
Infinitely deep darkness, was it Sir Lee Hoyeol?
Moreover, was he not an adventurer?
The amount of time he had spent on the Arcana Continent should also be short.
In truth, the fact that he even knew what the Milky Way Whetstone was—
that alone should be astonishing.
Clack—
When the imperial knights came out carrying the Milky Way Whetstone, Nash sealed the warehouse again. Then he had an audience with the Emperor. Nash carefully opened his mouth.
“Your Majesty, there is something I wish to say.”
“Speak, Nash.”
“It is nothing other than…”
Swoosh—
Nash’s gaze turned outside the imperial palace.
More precisely, toward the sky above Antonium.
A massive ship floating in the heavens.
The dwarves’ Iron Castle could be seen.
Nash continued.
“I wish to receive Your Majesty’s permission to leave the palace.”
Hiel, a spirit who appeared noble enough that one could not grasp his rank. Nash had heard about Hoyeol through Hiel, but that alone was not enough.
Someone might ask,
Was there any evidence more certain than the dwarves visiting Antonium? That was right. There was no evidence more certain than that for the heroic tale. Nash could not help but acknowledge it as well. ‘But I want to confirm it myself.’
Yes, this was his desire for inquiry as a mage.
Above all, how did Hoyeol know of the Milky Way Whetstone’s existence?
Why did he need it?
He felt that the dwarves might know the reason.
Soon, the Emperor opened his mouth.
“Nash.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I will not permit that request to leave the palace.”
“…Y-yes? Your Majesty?!”
But the position of the Empire’s highest-ranking mage was a heavy one.
It was not a position one could vacate according to one’s desires.
The Emperor continued.
“Nash, is your very existence not a comfort to the people of Antonium? It would be better for you to remain at your post for the time being.”
It was an answer with no room for rebuttal, Your Majesty…!
In the end, Nash lamented inwardly.
Brother, it seems I am lacking after all. ‘…If it were you, Brother Bensh, you would surely have been able to let His Majesty and the people rest easy while also leaving the palace freely, wouldn’t you?’
Compared to you, this younger brother still has a long way to go…
The Magic Tower.
The floating garden.
Bensh sat side by side with Bangrit, exchanging friendly conversation.
Naturally, the topic was the Zero Mountains.
The corner of Bensh’s mouth twisted.
“You seem quite excited, Senior Bangrit?”
“Not at all. Haha.”
“How about wiping the smile from your face before saying that?”
Bensh William rested his chin on his hand and waggled his finger.
He repeated to himself inwardly.
The world was this unfair.
Bangrit, this bumbling man, how could he be so lucky? ‘Even his point of contact with the Chief was special.’
…If I had known things would turn out like this,
I would have let Karimzeva deceive me instead.
Unable to understand it at all, Bensh grumbled.
“What did he like so much about such a trivial purpose for leaving the tower…”
A grand, splendid, and blazing purpose for leaving the tower!
To leave the great Magic Tower, should one not have a great objective? Thanks to that, every time Bensh’s application to leave the tower was denied, he inflated the purpose even further.
『To borrow a high-grade magic tool and burn demons.』
『To borrow a high-grade magic tool and burn demons and their encampment.』
『To borrow a high-grade magic tool and burn every last rift.』
…….
Yet somehow, the direction of it was gravely mistaken.
“If you insist, shall I take a look for you?”
“What? No thanks, Senior Bangrit.”
“If you hate the idea that much, then there’s nothing to be done.”
As if Bensch’s towering pride would allow him to show someone else an application to leave the Tower that had been denied.
In the end, it was the same this time as well.
After much deliberation, Bensch filled out and submitted his application to leave the Tower. 『To borrow a high-grade magical tool for the purpose of burning the Zero Mountains to ash.』 At least the fortunate thing was that his expression was bright.
“Today will be the last day you act superior in front of me, Senior Bangrit. This time, my application to leave the Tower will surely be approved.”
The appearance of the Zero Mountains.
That was as good as saying the Magic Tower’s role had grown.
After all, at the very summit of the mountains lay the Magic Tower’s sworn enemy.
Were dragons not sleeping there?
Just imagine if those slumbering dragons were to awaken.
The only ones who could handle that calamity would be the Magic Tower.
Smug—Bensch, who had at some point folded his arms, continued.
“There could be no stage more suited to Bensch William than this.”
Fire with fire(火)
.
Moreover, as the Magic Tower’s role had expanded,
the number of personnel leaving the Tower had also increased.
Bensch was truly brimming with confidence.
At least, until he checked the parchment.
“……
W-why!”──────No matter how important the Magic Tower’s role may be in the Zero Mountains, not every senior can vacate their post at the Magic Tower. Therefore, Bensch William, your application to leave the Tower is denied.──────Bensch cried out in despair.
“Why, of all people, am I the senior who has to remain behind?! Chief Lee!!”*Zero Mountains.
We will be the first to set foot in the mountains.
The guild master of Unification Under Heaven.
Ryu O Junchun clenched his fist.
“At last, my turn has come.”
Shining and the giant alliance had been the greatest obstacles.
While they crashed against the absurdly high wall called the Demon King Contest, Unification Under Heaven had focused on strengthening its foundations. Both in terms of players and in reality.
A question commonly found drifting around the internet.
If a player with superhuman abilities harbored discontent
and came into conflict with a nation, what would happen?
Ryu O Junchun had provided the answer to that question.
Thud—those facing Ryu O Junchun saluted.
“We shall await our lord’s safe return.”
That was right.
In his closed-off homeland, Ryu O Junchun had seized all real power.
Whether it was rule founded on fear or anything else, it did not matter.
The abilities of the class, [Monarch],
did not concern themselves with such things.
A crimson fleet cutting across the Pacific.
Ryu O Junchun gazed at the risen Zero Mountains.
Then he smiled.
“Enjoy your current praise to your heart’s content, Lee Hoyeol.”
Now that the grand stage called the Zero Mountains had unfolded,
and now that you had the leisure to water your flower garden,
it was only a matter of time before I caught up to you.
Having made that vow, Ryu O Junchun entered the Zero Mountains.
“……!”
And then he felt a sense of dissonance.
Sparkle—a sphere shining in midair.
Magic manifested by someone.
Light was brightly illuminating the darkness of the Zero Mountains.
What that meant was simple.
Someone had arrived at the Zero Mountains before them.
“……
Who are you?”
Ryu O Junchun’s face twisted....
There’s probably no one but me.
—“I will light the way, so feel free to follow as much as you like.”
To keep the words I had spoken.
The only human who would put himself through this much hell.
At least it was fortunate that even the system recognized this injustice.
I checked the message.
As expected, firsts are always best, aren’t they?