◈ Episode 228. Hadn’t I Told You [Class Quest: Assembly of All Dragons]
The old dragon cried out.
That the “Great House” had returned to the Arcana Continent.
All dragons wish to ascertain the truth of the incident.—Witness the dragons gathering upon the continent. (Optional)
Skal’s Dragon Knight class quest.
There, clearly, were the words “Great House.”
A phrase that left me feeling incredibly uneasy.
When I learned that fact, I desperately denied it.
As if there would be only one great house on the Arcana Continent. As if the Claudie House could possibly exist. Thinking back on it now, it was an extremely common-sense reaction.
But.‘Insane.’That faint possibility I had desperately denied.
It seemed, somehow, to be reality.
Because there was only one moment that came to mind.
That very day.‘The Transcendent riding a broom.’If I assumed she had brought up the name Claudie.
Then everything made sense.
The reason Yunaxus had suddenly mentioned the Great House.
The reason Gluttony had brought up the name Claudie.
And lastly.‘The reason that chaos was resolved.’……
I respect you, Hoyeol of my chuunibyou days.
Just what kind of imagination were you living with?
What kind of settings did you slap together for this to happen?‘At the news that Claudie had returned, every dragon gathered to hold a meeting, and as if a Demon King wasn’t enough, a Great Evil moved, and even the elves and the Transcendent turned back……!!’A common drama plot came to mind.
The story where someone is revealed to be the hidden child of a chaebol family and becomes the heir.
If seen broadly, wasn’t I in the same sort of situation?
But I sincerely wasn’t happy about it at all.
Because I was too busy breaking out in cold sweat inside.‘Granfell alone is already too much…….’If the Claudie House actually existed, what would happen to me?
Even now, I was suffering from all kinds of pride: the pride of Akshan’s last survivor, the pride of the Magic Tower’s chief, the pride of the person in charge of the Yusra Branch, the pride of the youngest son in a house full of daughters……. Anyway, I was a man tormented by every sort of pride.
And on top of that.
The pride of the fallen head of House Claudie would be added too?
Let’s really carry only a reasonable amount, Granfell!‘Please, no more dark past…….’Still, should I call it a silver lining amid misfortune?
On that point, it seemed my heart was aligned with Granfell’s.
“How foolish indeed.”
Those words were not directed at the Demon King, Andras.
They were directed at Gluttony, who had been manipulating the Demon King.
I continued coldly.
“Did you think to peer into the past with such shallow tricks?”
Gluttony was cunning, as befitted a Great Evil.
But as a demon hunter, I knew the nature of demons better than anyone.
Gluttony, that bastard, must not have trusted anyone.
Because demons were a kind that, by nature, could not trust others.‘He wouldn’t have believed that Claudie had returned either.’That was why he had put the Demon King forward.
He had made him shout the name Claudie.
In simple terms, it meant he had thrown out bait.
However.
“It is not a past an inferior race can peer into.”
Do you think I’ll obediently acknowledge my past, my dark history?
Do you think I’ll show even the slightest bit of it?
Besides, Granfell was someone who always kept any words once spoken.
And those words had been declared from Granfell’s own mouth.
—“I will not believe it until I confirm it with my own two eyes.”
With my own two eyes.
Until I witnessed proof that the Claudie House truly existed.
Even if dragons made a fuss.
Even if elves, Transcendents, and Great Evils alike caused an uproar.
I would absolutely not believe it.
Andras opened his beak.
“This one, I, I merely…….”
Within the exorcism ritual, a demon’s senses were not intact.
Even a trivial spell looked tremendously grand to them.
In that sense, how was Andras seeing me right now?‘For reference, I’m quite angry right now.’This time, even Granfell’s equanimity could only be sharper than ever. Of course it would be. The Claudie House, regardless of truth or whether it truly existed.『Though he was the heir of the Great House, his house fell to demons. The sole survivor of the house, Granfell Claudie Arpheus Romeo, hereafter Granfell, was…….』It was a story that must never be brought up lightly.
“Shut your mouth.”
Even if it did not show on the outside.
If one looked at the alien mana surging more violently than usual.
They could understand Granfell’s state of mind.
So I’m sorry, Andras.
Demon King.
A demon-type boss monster of a staggering level 888.
However, there was no need to stain Gwicheol with blood.
Nor any need to go to the trouble of manifesting some grand spell.
Because I had grown enough to suffocate Andras with alien mana alone.
You must have forgotten since it had been a while since our reunion.
But that was what a natural enemy relationship was.[“Instant Death” occurs to the Demon King, Andras.]
I spoke coldly.
“Beg for forgiveness in hell.”
Of course, I didn’t mean from me.
I meant from the lives of the Arcana Continent that you had trampled.
Well, I’m not sure whether our Akshan seniors will quietly leave you be.[Your level has increased.][Your level has increased.][Your level has increased.]…….*
The Demon King, Andras, had already been dealt with.
The moment the Holy War Alliance finished off the last remnants of the Demon King’s army.
A message appeared in the players’ vision as well.[You have cleared the Demon King’s Castle of Conflict.]
A clear message.
What those words meant was simple.
Nam Taemin, whose berserk state had been released and who had regained his reason, said,
“As expected, he finished it first.”
It wasn’t surprising.
Considering the monsters Hoyeol had defeated and the appropriate levels of the rifts he had cleared so far, Andras did not count as a formidable enemy. But at the same time, he couldn’t help but feel a chill.‘……
Mr. Hoyeol’s presence was different from usual.’A wildness so raw it wouldn’t be strange to call it beastly.
Thanks to that, Nam Taemin had realized it.
No matter the situation.
Hoyeol’s emotions, which had never wavered, had become ever so slightly rough.
Of course, saying they had become rough did not mean it was a bad thing.
He scratched his head.
“Among us Barbarians, that’s a compliment…….”
In any case, a question had to follow.‘Why, of all things, in a battle like this?’As said earlier.
Hoyeol had faced enemies and situations far worse than Andras.
During the battle to retake Frost alone, he had witnessed countless dead residents of Frost. He had even recovered their corpses.
After pondering, Nam Taemin muttered,
“……
Was it Claudie?”
In the end, that was the only thing that had been different from usual.
The incomprehensible word the demons had shouted.
Mr. Hoyeol probably knew the meaning of that word.
Perhaps there was some circumstance that made him unable to help being sensitive to it.
Nam Taemin gritted his teeth.
“Damn it.”
He had been happy to be acknowledged by Hoyeol as a comrade.
And yet he was always only indebted to him.
When it came down to it, he had never once helped Hoyeol.
“What’s give-and-take about this, seriously?”
How could this be called being comrades?
He was just a burden.
Nam Taemin’s shoulders drooped.
To that Nam Taemin, Hisagi opened his mouth.
“I do not think this is the time to act pitiful.”
“……
What?”
“Have you forgotten what he said?”
Hisagi continued as he staunched the wound on his cheek.
“If you realize you are lacking, all you need to do is overcome it.”
“……!”
“Were we not also desperately short on time to overcome anything?”
“I’m all for it.”
Leonie, covered in blood like the berserker she was, cut in.
Then she swept Nam Taemin with a displeased gaze before continuing.
“Tsk, if I had that build, I’d already be level 700.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“I’m telling you not to start slumping your shoulders already.”
Thunk—Leonie lifted her chin.
Following her gaze upward, there were helicopters and cameras filming them. Only then did Nam Taemin realize it and hurriedly composed himself. Then, using ventriloquism, he said,
“When did you grow up?”
“What are you saying? Shut up.”
“Anyway, Mr. Hoyeol feels more and more amazing as time goes on.”
Even for someone like him.
There were times when the flood of attention felt burdensome.
The burden pouring down on Hoyeol was something he could not even dare imagine.
Having realized that anew, he muttered,
“……
Thinking about it like that, he finally seems a bit human.”
“Whom are you talking about?”
“There’s someone.”
“Ugh, he’s trying to act cool by himself again.”
“Phew. I’m talking about Mr. Hoyeol. Happy?”
“Ah…….”
Even without a complicated explanation, they could feel it.
The three of them fell silent as they looked around the Demon King’s castle that Hoyeol had swept through.
Then a cautious voice reached them.-……
Um, sorry to interrupt your touching conversation.
It was the voice of Nam Cheolmin, the analyst of the Great Alliance.
“Yeah, hyung. I’m listening. What’s up?”
-It’s about Mr. Hoyeol…….
“Mr. Hoyeol?! So where is Mr. Hoyeol right now?!”
Even if he was still lacking when it came to directly helping him.
He could at least volunteer to be someone who listened and shared his worries.
Whatever story was entangled with Claudie.
He meant he was confident he could listen and empathize as much as needed.
Of course, making that resolve seem meaningless.
-Mr. Hoyeol, I heard he simply returned to the Magic Tower?
“Wh-whattttt?!”
-He’s apparently wrapping up the conference with his usual straight posture.‘……
Did I overdo it for nothing?’‘Damn, do I really have shit intuition?’‘Were all of our thoughts nothing but presumptuous delusions?’For a moment.
The three lost their words.
Nam Cheolmin opened his mouth quietly.
“……
I take back what I said about him seeming human.”
He was simply Homen…….*
As expected, showing once is better than explaining a hundred times.
A flashing message.[Quest: Found a School]
You who have achieved a noble magical accomplishment.
Prove your achievement at the regular conference.
And announce the founding of new magic.─Present “Reversal Magic” at the regular conference. (Success)
After successfully concluding the regular conference, I returned to my office.
When had I returned to the Magic Tower, you ask?
Amazingly, it was immediately after dealing with Andras.
Yes, in other words, I was a compulsive workaholic.[You have met the conditions.][Rewards will be granted.][Your relationship with the Magic Tower has increased.][Your influence within the Magic Tower has increased.]
“I knew you would understand.”
As expected, the Magic Tower is no easy opponent.
It seems the [Authority] function within the Magic Tower still hasn’t been activated.
I had no interest in the position of Tower Master, but.‘With this presentation, I should have gained the qualifications for Tower Master.’That must mean even the Tower Master cannot manipulate the Magic Tower however he pleases.
Well, even that cat isn’t free from the Magic Tower’s rules.
Since it came up, I will make this vow once again.
Someday.
Even if I become able to manipulate the Magic Tower however I please.
I have absolutely no intention of taking on the position of Tower Master.‘It’s really too much now.’Until now, I had somehow been able to handle it.
But the moment I faced Claudie, my mind went blank.
I felt like I could endure everything else with pride.[Name: Granfell Claudie Arpheus Romeo]
But that damned name……!
The reality of it being shouted to the world was something I felt I absolutely couldn’t handle.
In that sense, I sincerely hoped that day would not come.‘With my own two eyes.’I mean I hoped the day would not come when I confirmed proof of Claudie.
Yes, if that day came.
There would no longer be any justification left to stop Granfell’s loose tongue.‘……
Still, should I call this fortunate?’After all, by now, rumors about Claudie must be spreading across the Arcana Continent. This is the first time I’ve ever felt grateful that reality and the Arcana Continent were cut off from each other.‘As for news that comes over to reality.’Just like how I dealt with the Demon King, Andras.
All I had to do was desperately block it.
Of course, it bothered me that the dragons had all gathered because of Claudie. I had no way of knowing whether they would be friendly or hostile toward me.
In any case.‘It’d be a bit much to clash with dragons, wouldn’t it……?’If I ever happened to face the dragons, let’s try persuading them properly, even if I have to bring up the fact that I’m the youngest in the World Tree’s family tree.
I’m quite used to acting like the youngest, after all.
Since I had opened the status window anyway, I also checked the results of clearing the Demon King’s castle.[Level: 621][Stats]
Strength: 142 / Agility: 139 / Magic Power: 517 / Luck: 12 / Aesthetic: High / Tenacity: 2[Unallocated Points: 20]
Still, he did live up to his level as a boss monster.
It seemed there had been a reason he’d spoken so firmly even in front of me.To think my level had risen by 20 all at once despite taking the level 600 wall into account.
“There is no need to rejoice over mere numbers.”
Yes, yes, of course.‘You should just be glad you didn’t die from embarrassment, Granfell.’Even if I had realized the importance of fundamental ability.
It wasn’t as if level wasn’t important either.
More than anything, I had to reach level 700.‘This damn jacket.’This thing fluttering over my shoulders.
No matter what, shouldn’t I at least be able to put my arms through it?
Only then would I be able to confirm the effects of the Luxurious Dawn Set.
Anyway.『Because, in the end, he had made it into reality.』Just like the setting.
Every word he had spouted was being collected without exception.
That day when heavenly luck followed me thanks to the Siren’s blessing.
I had spouted this.
—“I do not believe in luck.”
Thanks to my increased Luck, I had passed through danger without even knowing why.
And yet I had been shameless beyond belief.
I had been the one throwing retorts at Granfell.
But.
If it was true that the chaos had been settled.
In the name of Claudie…….
—“Both luck and destiny are things one carves out for oneself.”
Then those words were no longer nonsense.……
In that sense, I’d better be careful with my words from now on.
I reached for the teacup with the green tea bag steeping inside.
Clack—Was it because I had suffered no small amount of mental shock?
Today, the preciousness of teatime struck me more than usual.
But no sooner had I swallowed a mouthful of green tea.
Than this damn mouth spat out words.
“However, it is not something that should be overlooked.”……
No, overlook it or not.
I’m telling you, think before you speak?!
If you hate that, then at least catch your breath before talking!
But despite my pleading, I ended up spouting it.
“All of you, wait for me.”
For real.
“I shall return to the continent.”
I’m not going to live out my natural lifespan……!