◈ Episode 210. This Is No Situation for Greetings (1)
I looked at the scenery shown by the Magic Eye telescope.
Then, without realizing it, I glared at the telescope.……
My eyes are definitely open properly, aren't they?
Still unable to trust it, I even checked the messages.[A small fortune dwells in your touch.][You temporarily become proficient at operating the telescope.][The effect's duration increases.]
Because the system does not lie.……
It meant I was not seeing things.
I, who had already experienced so many unbelievable things.
And among them, today was truly the greatest of all.
Spending a damned dynamic day,
I had resolved to refrain from making bold claims as much as possible.
Even so, I must make one now.
Yunaxus, the Great Evil, Urus, Argentres, and even the elves.
Those standing on the battlefield each had a reason they could not retreat.
Whether that reason was right or wrong.
They all truly intended to fight to the finish.
An existence capable of stopping such a fight?
I dare claim.
In reality, of course, and even on the Arcana Continent.
Within the knowledge I possess, there is no such existence.
Therefore, I couldn't help but be bewildered.
No, just who are you?
A Transcendent who emerged from the portal riding a broom.
Not long after she appeared, the fighting stopped like a lie.
I knew.
That this was not a matter to be measured by strength.
Above all, those gathered were not great personages who would be intimidated by a single Transcendent.
If so, there could only be one reason.
That nameless Transcendent
had brought news worth ending the fight over.
No, just what news could it be?
My curiosity soared, but
unfortunately, I couldn't hear that reason.
Telepathy—at this moment alone, I resent magic.'How cowardly.'
Of course, there's no way they noticed I was observing through the telescope; it was simply because of the noisy thunder. In such a tremendous roar, no matter how loud one's voice, conversation would be impossible.
Though I knew it couldn't be helped, the regret was unavoidable.
"It has quieted down at last."
I deliberately ignore Granpel, who speaks eloquently as always, and think.
So even though I don't know what happened or how…… 'In the end, the system didn't lie?'
From Yunaxus to the Great Evil.
Everyone stopped fighting and dispersed like a lie.
Until they left, their sharp gazes showed lingering attachments remained. But anyway, it seemed they had judged that now was not the time to fight.
Not knowing the reason left an unsatisfying aftertaste, but…… 'Hoo—'
I swallowed a sigh of relief without even realizing it.
The immediate question was something that would end if only I was curious.
If the Transcendent riding a broom hadn't appeared…… '……
I nearly met the Lucky Day ending.'
Still, did I avoid the Earth Destruction ending?
She was truly a benefactor I met thanks to my greatly increased fortune.
It was only natural for a person to be grateful.
Yet I ended up blurting out the same thing as always.
"Didn't I say? That even luck and fate are forged."
Anyway, not backing down a single word!
Of course, it probably didn't reach all the way to the Arcana Continent.
For conscience's sake, I delivered a heartfelt apology in place of the inconsiderate Granpel.……
It's complicated to explain, but sorry, it's puberty……[The Siren's Song blesses you.][Your luck increases significantly.]
The chaos that had unfolded on the Arcana Continent.
Now that the major incident was settled, for the remaining duration of the effect,
I had resolved to truly make substantial use of it.
The beginning had been doubtful, but
now that everything ended peacefully thanks to the benefactor's appearance,
the effect of luck had been proven.
I fluttered my jacket and looked into the forest.[War-Crazed Reindeer: Lv.750][War-Crazed Reindeer Leader: Lv.800]
The mid-slope of the Zero Mountain Range.
Though their appearance was closer to ordinary beasts than monsters, their strength couldn't be ignored. You could tell by seeing the majority of players struggling bitterly against the Zero Mountain Range rabbits.'Five normal mobs and one named mob.'[Natural Enemy]
was not activated.
Considering the level difference, hunting without manifesting magic of the transcendental realm was impossible.
I had steadily trained stats excluding mana through class quests, but
the truth was I lagged behind close-combat class players of the same level.
Even so, I spoke softly.
"This shall be a cruel thing for you all."
I took hold of Gwicheol.
"Thus, I shall show mercy."
Wait, who decided mercy was yours to give?
Even if I held the legendary item, Gwicheol,
unless I left everything to Gwicheol,
I couldn't display the flashy movements I had during the duel with Shegwin.
Of course, with my cunning as I Ho-yeol. 'I'd love to leave everything to Gwicheol for life!'
Society didn't develop division of labor for nothing.
Wasn't I someone who already had enough wells to repair and holes to survive in? It was true that at least in swordsmanship, I wanted to quietly follow where Gwicheol led.
'In common parlance, I wanted to become a bus passenger.'
But.
"Answer."
How could pride so easily hand over the steering wheel to another?
Was this not Granpel, who couldn't rest easy unless he stepped forward first on any arduous path? In the end, it meant I was the one suffering again this time……!
Soon, the battle begins.
The Ego Sword is felt.
Gwicheol's voice.
-Is this the one called my master?
When Gwicheol trailed off like that, I flinched.
To the point of scolding the Sword Saint, Shegwin.
Was this not Gwicheol, who could be called the sword itself?
Had it seen through my shallow depth?
For a moment, the thief's feet ached.
But it was a needless worry.
-To think it is a mindset unchanged on any battlefield……
Yeah, whose alter ego is this?
-Indeed, it must be such a mindset that created such a dense Sword Aura in a short time. As expected, my choice was not wrong. I am pleased to walk your path of the sword together, my master!
An unwavering mindset?
Not entirely wrong.
Thanks to the endlessly abundant foam that rose from struggling.
I had only faced rifts and monsters at least one hundred to several hundred levels higher than the appropriate level. Even achieving Sword Aura was thanks to having died once.
'Sometimes ignorance is bliss for both sides.
Gwicheol, I'm glad you're happy.
Shhk—
Thinking that what matters is that it's good, I swung Gwicheol.
Even if not necessarily swordsmanship, from 『Dark Magic』 to 『Marksmanship』.
The wells I needed to repair were not one or two.
And the reason I chose swordsmanship first among them?
It was because I had a clear goal.[Transcendent: Your transcendental realm is sufficient to be called a Transcendent.
- Current achievements reached: Circle (All magic manifestation power increased by 1,000%) / Unfinished Quick Swordsmanship / None / None…….]
If I crossed past unfinished and reached completion.
New effects would unlock just as with Circle.
I had chosen the option promising the greatest result relative to effort.
The battle with the war-crazed reindeer herd.
Needless to say, it was my victory.
Even if I wore the jacket draped over rather than properly put on.
I was clad in Epic items and even held a Legendary item. To this extent, it was item power that could lightly ignore such a level difference.
On top of that, though unfinished, even Quick Swordsmanship.[Your level has increased.][Your level has increased.][Your level has increased.]
My level rose by 3 to 598.
Perhaps because I was approaching Level 600.
I viscerally felt that the slowing level-ups meant hitting a new wall. Even so, compared to other players, it was still an absurd growth speed.
'They're probably hunting all day even now, everyone.'
What's a day to raise one level?
Depending on the case, there are players who don't stop hunting for days.
Thinking of that effort, stop complaining, Hoyeol. '……
But still, no matter what, this is a bit hard to endure?'
I really don't know how I ended up like this.
Nothing ever comes easy.
I looked at the status window and swallowed a sigh.[Tenacity: 1][Available Points: 3]
The newly unlocked stats, Aesthetics and Tenacity.
Aesthetics had been divided into Superior, Middle, and Inferior from the start, so I naturally thought point allocation would be impossible, and so it was.
'But Tenacity.'
You shouldn't wear the mask of an Arabic numeral like that!
'I wondered why Akshan would hand out a cheat stat.'
Akshan, who values effort more than anyone.
Such Akshan, such demon hunters.
As if they would pass down a stat you could leech off.
I recalled Tenacity's effect.[Tenacity: Converts mental strength into ability stats. Each time Tenacity rises, the converted ability stats additionally increase.]
Perhaps thanks to Granpel's near-indomitable mental strength.
Tenacity showed an efficiency of approximately 50 stat points per 1 point.
From now on, I could produce the efficiency of 50 levels per 1 level.
I had been satisfied.
As expected, counting my chickens before they hatched.
'The way to raise Tenacity is obvious.'
It's that damned tedious grinding, what else!
Like the moment Tenacity was unlocked,
it was obvious I had to train beyond my limits.
In that sense, there would be no time to rest.
'Still, maybe I can raise Tenacity with the luck effect.'
Without realizing it, I was already thinking of voluntarily suffering.
Somehow, it felt like I had been infected by Granpel's pride too, but……
The self-loathing of dark history can be felt tomorrow just as well.[Remaining Time: 16 hours 14 minutes]
I checked the Siren's Blessing duration and spoke.
"Time is like tea enjoyed in the afternoon."
Today, why, I had wondered why that sound wasn't coming.*The Magic Tower's office.[Remaining Time: 54 minutes]
Just one last bold claim.
There won't be another day as hard as today!
I was already suffering from a busy schedule. Meaning I had busily gone here and there on top of that to earn back my greatly increased luck's principal.
"It was not an ill day."
When such words come from the snout, that's that, I suppose.
So as for what happened.
Let's slowly reflect until the tea water is heated.[Tenacity: 2]
First, after arduous training, Tenacity rose by 1 point.
I was happy, yet simultaneously flinched.
Luck had increased significantly.
If it was only 1 point with this amount of training, what would it normally be like?
I couldn't erase my worry.
"A windfall is merely a windfall, after all."
New green tea brewed in cold water is not to my taste.
Don't speak at such a timing, Granpel.
Still, considering Tenacity's effect, it was a hardship I could accept.
The moment my vision blurred during push-ups.
The risen Tenacity.
Because the strength increased by its effect was a whole 100 points.
'Escaping grinding for life seems impossible.'
Skipping the process and looking only at the result, Tenacity was indeed a cheat stat.
I'd have to train steadily until I faint in the future too……. Of course, the greatly increased luck's effect didn't end there.
Even in the Yusra Kingdom office I visited to handle business, there were considerable achievements.
The most welcome among them was undoubtedly the news delivered directly by King Hakuna.
-"I have been remiss all this time. I am finally resolved."
Hakuna had been unable to properly hold a sword all this time.
Precisely, he had been unable to properly face blades. Every time he saw swords, spears, and shields, the people he had failed to protect during the days of the ancient kingdom came to mind.
-"Though lacking, I shall fulfill my duty."
For such a Hakuna to overcome his past.
It was glad tidings to me in many ways.
Though it was worth celebrating that Hakuna overcame his trauma.
Thanks to that, my workload seemed like it would decrease a little as well.
Could you say a little breathing room had opened?
Click-clack—
Somewhat lighter footsteps.
Upon returning to the Magic Tower, another welcome piece of news was waiting.
A passage written on parchment.
Whether in handwriting or content, it was a letter from Marcelo.
Greetings and gratitude.
Excluding the grandiose modifiers.
To summarize the core in one line:──────The Tower Master has shown a reaction for the first time.──────
The top floor of the Magic Tower.
The Tower Master floating with eyes closed inside an unidentified sphere of magic power.
It meant movement had been detected from such a Tower Master.
Of course, even if it was movement,
it wasn't anything significant—merely a twitching finger—but.'Because it was unprecedented.'
His handwriting, more cheerful than usual.
It seemed to show how excited Marcelo was.
Of course, I am happy too.[Quest: Reconstruction of the Magic Tower]
The substance of contradiction that existed in the Tower of Magicians.
Now when even the Magic Tower's purpose of seeking truth had been corrupted.
Set the Magic Tower right from its foundation.
─Encounter the Tower Master. (In Progress)
─Dispose of the escaped demon worshipper. (Success)
─Find the true truth. (In Progress)
Anyway, it meant progress had been made on a daunting quest.
Click—
Pouring scaldingly heated water into the teacup, I muttered.
"The finish is important, after all."
Indeed.
Having spent such a fulfilling day, roughly a bit over an hour remained.
Of course, I intended to spend the remaining hour substantially as well.
I was scheduled to enter the Space-Time Social Hall.
'I must meet her, my lifesaving benefactor.'
I'm talking about that nameless Awakened One who appeared riding a broom.
Now that luck has greatly increased,
the probability of missing each other should also decrease.
That is why I am now,
brewing tea bag green tea to placate Granpel, who is by no means pleased about visiting the Social Hall.
'They had all sorts of things on the menu, yet no green tea.'
I muttered seriously.
"Even the space-time needs rocket delivery, it seems."...
It is Granpel's formality that governs my body.
The obsession with formality grows even stronger at the Social Hall.
The consistently upright posture, of course, as well as that gait and speech.
One cannot act rashly or frivolously.
However.
The first words I uttered upon entering the Social Hall were a 'warning.'
"Reveal yourself."
Truly.
This is my final bold claim.
Because there was an 'absolutely impossible person' in the Space-Time Social Hall.