◈ Episode 202. But Before That (2)
I shouldn’t have been worried about Granfell’s aesthetic eye.
I, Lee Hoyeol, was in a position where I had to worry about dying from shame.
No, seriously, why is it so flashy?!
Let’s take a slow look at the exterior first.
Should I call this a jacket?
It really looked like something a medieval noble would wear... No, even most nobles wouldn’t dare dream of something this extravagant. Fabric of a navy so dark it was almost black.
If I were to express that mysterious hue in Granfell’s style...
“The color of the sky just before daybreak, is it.”
What a killer visual description.
If you describe it twice, you’ll end up killing me too, seriously. ‘Anyway.’ What embroidered that fabric was—
Silver embroidery that looked insanely expensive at a glance.
From the collar at the neck down to the lapels.
The connected embroidered pattern was so ornate it made my face burn.
But that was only the beginning.
And what were those epaulets on both shoulders?
They looked like they would sway annoyingly every time I moved. I leaned in to examine them a little more closely... Wait, this didn’t even seem to be ordinary silver.[Pentagram of Pure Knowledge]
Its effect.
Thanks to having acquired knowledge of every mineral on the Arcana Continent, I was able to recognize it immediately. ‘It’s [Magic Platinum].’
Magic Platinum.
A precious material whose supply was extremely limited because no vein of it existed.
Naturally, its effects couldn’t even be compared to ordinary minerals.
Just how much of that Magic Platinum did they cram into a single jacket? Even the epaulets on both shoulders alone looked like they would easily weigh several dozen don.
If I considered the weight used in the vest, the belt, and the trousers as well...
It really seemed they had used Magic Platinum by the ingot.
If I had any conscience, I had no choice but to be impressed.
“It appears they poured their heart and soul into it.”
When it came to clothing, he was endlessly sincere.
For such words to come from the fastidious Granfell’s mouth...
Walswile and everyone else must have gone through a tremendous amount of trouble.
Hiel bowed her head politely.
“Now that my lord is pleased, I can finally be at ease.”...
Yes, Hiel.
Because you put in effort in so many ways.
No, thanks to you.
This kind of armor must have been born.
Was this what parents felt when they received a carnation made by their child on Parents’ Day?
Then I had no choice but to try it on. ‘But before that.’
Let’s check the equipment specs too.
There was a chance I might not meet the wearing restrictions.
I examined the information windows that appeared, one by one.
But, wait.[Trousers of the One Who Awaits the Dawn][Shirt of the One Who Awaits the Dawn][Vest of the One Who Awaits the Dawn][Belt of the One Who Awaits the Dawn][Jacket of the One Who Awaits the Dawn]
I wasn’t surprised by the fact that they were set items. ‘The One Who Awaits the Dawn?!’
Navy so dark it was almost black.
Seeing that and calling it the color of the sky just before daybreak.
Granfell had definitely spouted those words. ‘There’s no way the dwarves had that kind of sensibility.’
This was a name that could only be given by someone whose sensibilities were the spitting image of Granfell’s.
Naturally, only one person came to mind.
No, only one spirit.
Diend, it was you.
I firmly held back the sigh that was about to escape. ‘...Fine, it’s not like I’m showing it to anyone else.’
Let’s endure it.
It was just...
A little embarrassing for me, that was all, Hoyeol.
In that sense, I needed a mental victory—telling myself that I had no choice but to wear it because of its performance.
I examined the information windows in order.
“!”
And flinched.[Grade: Epic]
All five pieces of equipment were Epic-grade.
Even though I had obtained the [Legendary]-grade Gwicheol...
The value of an Epic item didn’t change.
It meant each and every one of them had value comparable to a Demon King’s trophy...!
“I see.”
It wasn’t hard to understand.
No, if I considered the value of the materials invested and what kind of beings the dwarves who refined them were, Epic grade might actually be an appropriate judgment.[Restriction: Lv.500 / High Level of Renown]
First of all, what a relief.
Level restriction, level 500.
There was an additional restriction of [High Level of Renown], but that wasn’t a problem for me.
A high level of renown was something I had satisfied ever since I defeated the Seven Deadly Sins’ Greed.
I’ve grown this much.
I was feeling smug on the inside for only a moment.
Separate from the information window...
An additional message appeared.[The wearing restriction has been greatly eased by the Artisan’s Handiwork.][Applied Artisan’s Handiwork effect: - Lv.300]...
No, I take back what I said about having grown. ‘I still have a long way to go.’
If it hadn’t been for the Artisan’s Handiwork effect, the level restriction would have been a whopping level 800. If it weren’t for the dwarves, I wouldn’t even have been able to put one leg into the trouser leg, would I?[Effect: Manifests when set items are worn][Description: Equipment crafted solely for the “One Who Awaits the Dawn.” Fine work, masterpiece, magnum opus. Because no modifier can express its nobility, no modifier has been attached.]
As the description said.
Only for the One Who Awaits the Dawn.
In other words, I was grateful that it was equipment made solely for me, but...
The effect was somewhat unusual. ‘Epic items are all like that, though.’
The Demon King’s trophies were the same.
From Epic grade onward, their effects were certainly unique.
Even just the Demon Eye Telescope or the baton had effects that would make not only players...
But even Arcanians tilt their heads in confusion. ‘Of course, effects are only an extremely small part of performance.’
In the Arcana system, equipment items’ attack power or defense power weren’t displayed separately. The reason was that attack power and defense power couldn’t be calculated and quantified.
However, one could make an estimate.[Evil Earth Dragon’s Fang][Grade: Unique][Restriction: Lv.800][Effect: None][Description: A sword made from the fang of an earth dragon that failed to become a true dragon. Due to the earth dragon’s innate limitations, it has no special effect, but its destructive power does not fall behind any other weapon.]
If something was exceptional even considering its wearing restriction, then whether in the description or the effect...
It would let the player recognize its performance in some way. ‘In any case, it lives up to its grade, doesn’t it?’
Of course, perhaps because it was an Epic item.
The description was more ominous than concrete.
But there was no need to worry.
Wouldn’t I find out once I wore it? ‘There’s even a testing ground ready.’
The equipment’s original wearing restriction was level 800, the same as the appropriate level for the [Dungeon: Siren of Lava] I had currently entered.
There could be no situation more fitting than this.
Float—
I used magic to float the clothing into the air and changed.
I was suddenly changing clothes at the entrance of a cave, but my restrained and confident movements were so elegant that it looked as though I were changing in the fitting room of some luxury boutique.
Now, only the jacket remained.
A jacket particularly flashy among the clothes.
Truly, the words oh no came out on their own. ‘It even has blue jewels attached. Seriously.’
Is it a medal or what?
I reached out toward the jacket.
Wait, the energy I felt from my hand was unusual.
All of them had displayed identical information windows. The problem was that I had delayed checking the information on the jacket—the one I most wanted to look away from—until the very end.[Restriction: Lv.700]
Even after receiving the Artisan’s Handiwork effect, it was level 700.
Which meant it was originally an item for level one thousand, didn’t it?
No wonder I thought it was seriously dazzling...!
I glanced at Hiel.
Those sparkling eyes were extremely burdensome.
My head was filled with all sorts of thoughts.
To think I still had 100 levels to go.
To think I couldn’t even check the set effect until I reached level 700.
It felt deflating.
But as always, none of it showed on the outside.
Rustle—
I shamelessly picked up the jacket.
Then I draped it over my shoulders.
That was right.
This was the best I could do at the present point in time.
Why?
Because of this damn level.
I couldn’t even put one arm into the jacket. ‘...Is this at least fortunate?’
That I could use magic to attach the jacket to my shoulders like a magnet.
At my appearance, Hiel’s eyes widened.
“This Hiel... never imagined such a method of wearing it.”
At those words, I looked over my own state.
Other players’ equipment was no less fantastical, so I could try to roughly understand and move on. But draping a jacket over my shoulders really was hard to accept... ‘...If I can’t accept it.’
Fine.
I’ll quickly reach level 700.
Then all I have to do is meet the restriction.
And so, even though I had declared that levels weren’t important...
I had no choice but to obsess over levels.
Within that profound contradiction, I moved my feet.
Click—
Ah.
Now that we’re on the subject.
I really needed to change these damn click-clacking shoes somehow too...
*
Zero Mountains.
Hunting was in full swing across the vast New Continent.
If one were to ask whether hunting had not continued in the rifts as well...
That would be said out of ignorance.
“This can truly be called an all-out war!”
It was different from rifts, which only players could enter.
The Zero Mountains had been added as a region.
The monsters that appeared in reality were defenseless against modern firearms.
Bang—!!
A gunshot that could never be heard on the Arcana Continent.
The guild master of Unification Under Heaven, Liu Oujunchun, shouted.
“All troops, advance!”
He hadn’t brought an aircraft carrier formation for no reason.
At the moment the Zero Mountains were added as a region rather than a rift...
Liu Oujunchun had completed all of his plans.
After the era of the Cataclysm had arrived...
He would make use of his homeland’s military might, which had lost its luster.[Monarch]
Class skill activated.
Liu Oujunchun’s eyes quickly surveyed the battlefield.
The players were clearly exhausted from the continuous hunting.
Liu Oujunchun deployed his forces to their rear.
Bang!
Ratatatat!
Bang bang!
In the early days of the Cataclysm...
The world developed new weapons to respond to the monsters that had flooded reality.
Indeed, the power of [science] that had sustained humanity was great.
Even monsters...
Found it difficult to withstand new anti-monster weapons that maximized lethality.
However, the story changed inside rifts.
Only players could enter rifts.
Among players, there were very few who could handle such new weapons skillfully.
And even if they hunted monsters with new weapons, not only would they suffer tremendous losses in experience, they wouldn’t even be able to properly raise skill proficiency.
An executive of Unification Under Heaven, Yu Jio.
“I thought they were nothing but useless junk.”
She continued, seemingly moved.
“As expected of Lord Liu. I never imagined you would utilize such troublesome burdens in this way!”
Of course, the monsters of the Zero Mountains were not easy opponents.
Even after being hit by hundreds of rounds of pouring ammunition...
They continued to struggle until the very end.
But there was no resisting sheer numbers.
Rumble.
Thud.
Rumble, rumble.
The mountain range’s beasts collapsed here and there.
Then a message appeared before Liu Oujunchun.[Your level has risen.]
The military forces deployed were all players, not ordinary people.
They were low-level players of his homeland who did not have the qualifications to enter Unification Under Heaven.
Liu Oujunchun had no intention of nurturing them.
From the beginning, they were beings who could not even become his sword and shield.
They were nothing more than stepping stones for him to tread upon as he advanced.
Liu Oujunchun’s eyes flashed. ‘That’s right. Only I can do this.’
The other [Monarchs], who had depended on players, had all been culled.
The only one who survived was himself, reigning over the players. ‘Now that the Zero Mountains have appeared, it’s only a matter of time.’
Level 524.
At last, we stand at the same eye level.
Rox, I will surpass you.
Skal, the same goes for you.
News of Liu Oujunchun’s level-up was relayed to Rox in real time as well.
“Wait. At this rate, isn’t he going to catch up to you, Rox?”
At Dmitri’s fussing, Rox laughed.
“Haha. Maybe he will.”
“You’re laughing? You can laugh in this situation? Seriously?”
“Well, he even brought guns and started shooting. What can I do?”
Contrary to his words, Rox’s eyes narrowed. ‘Did you fail to realize it even after witnessing it, Liu Oujunchun?’
The duel between Hoyeol and the Sword Saint.
Through that duel, Rox realized.
That what mattered was not level.
And why Hoyeol had given players the opportunity to interact with the people of the Arcana Continent...
Including the Lionheart Knights and the Magic Tower. ‘That there’s something more important than level.’
Rox could be certain.
Liu Oujunchun’s direction was wrong.
That was why he felt no impatience.
Of course, that calm did not last long.
“...Wait, Rox?”
Camilla, who had been scouting the surroundings from atop a tree, flinched.
“We’ve got an unexpected guest.”
It was someone who had given Camilla one of her few unpleasant memories.
At Camilla’s rare reaction, Rox could instinctively tell.
Who that uninvited guest was.
An eternal rival who could not be compared to Liu Oujunchun.
“It’s Skal.”
As if that was the correct answer.
Clop, clop—
The sound of hooves echoed through the mountain range.
Soon, from below the range, Skal appeared.
And so did his Alexander, its golden mane fluttering.
With Skal’s appearance as the final piece...
The official Arcana rankings’ first, second, and third places had gathered in the Zero Mountains.
Camilla spoke, her voice clearly uneasy.
“But why does he look like that? He seems angry, Rox.”
“!!”
What had displeased Skal?
Amid the rising tension...
Skal gradually drew closer....
Skal muttered inside his mouth.
“Lee Hoyeol.”...
No, that was not it. Before a meeting, formality and etiquette came first.
“See here, just where in the world is Sir Hoyeol?”
He said something that would have made the person in question horrified if he had heard it.
To Skal, of course...
Neither Rox nor the entire Shining Guild would even enter his eyes.
Clop, clop!
Alexander’s hooves did not stop.
Whoosh!
Far from having a conversation...
Without even meeting their eyes.
Skal passed right by them.
In the silence—
“...Huh?”
Only Dmitri tilted his head.