◈ Episode 237. True Discipline
The chief executive of AAU’s Yusra Branch.
I am more faithful than anyone to the weight I carry.
Thanks to that, on the day the dragon Yunaxus tore through dimensions and crossed over to the Arcana Continent,
I had also meticulously read through AAU’s records.‘An energy reaction at a level impossible to measure with modern equipment.’Now I can see why.
The moment I drew up my mana, I realized it by instinct.
This is impossible to manifest right now!
The role of the access device was practically no different from that of a portal.
The difference was that, with a portal, the farther the destination coordinates were from the current location, the more the mana consumption increased exponentially.
Since the destination coordinates were being set from reality to the Arcana Continent, it was only natural that an enormous amount of mana would be consumed.‘Even when I’m in perfect condition, it’d probably be all I could do just to enter alone.’At present, I was holding the rift in place with the Oddity of Reversal.[Blessing of the First World Tree]
In other words, I was pouring all the mana being regenerated by it into the rift. In a situation like that, how could I possibly manifest a portal leading all the way to the Arcana Continent!
Sssss—
I withdrew my mana.
Though there were such circumstances behind it,
my mouth shamelessly spoke.
“No matter how urgent it may be.”
I had said I would return to the Arcana Continent.
On top of that, there was also the quest.[Class Quest: All-Dragon Convocation (全龍召集)]
The old dragon cried out.
That the “Great Family” had returned to the Arcana Continent.
All dragons wish to ascertain the truth of the matter.─Witness the dragons gathering on the continent. (Failed)─Encounter the dying old dragon, Yunaxus. (In Progress)
It was not my quest, but the class quest of the Dragon Knight, Skal.
Still, I also needed to speak with Yunaxus.
Starting with what Mother, the World Tree’s will, truly was.‘Though I’d rather not bring that up with my own mouth…….’And even matters concerning the Claudi family.
I needed to hear them clearly.
In that sense.‘Please wait just a little longer, Yunaxus.’It seemed that here,
I would have to settle matters in reality first.
Settle matters all of a sudden?
If someone asked, I would gladly answer.
“I cannot tolerate discipline being shaken.”
As I said,
I had deemed Raymon Sean as prey.
Thanks to that, in my eyes as a demon hunter, I could see it clearly.
Raymon Sean’s ulterior motive in putting forth the world quest!
Now that I knew that,
did you think I would stay still?
I withdrew my mana from the rift I had been holding.
Then the message surfaced once more.[You have cleared the Rift, Dungeon: CODE-009.]
Paaat!
Within the scenery breaking apart,
I recited.
“Know your place.”
It was none other than
the discipline I had established by struggling and suffering like a dog.
Did you think I would just stand by and watch such discipline collapse?
“Do not try to defy discipline when you are nothing but prey.”*
Each AAU branch builds a close relationship with the government of its respective nation.
Because AAU was the organization that responded to the supernatural disaster known as the Cataclysm.
Meaning, for the safety of the people, nations and AAU had no choice but to establish cooperative relations.
The AAU branch managers’ meeting.
From the prototype monsters
to the appearance of the prototype access device.
Having realized the severity of the situation, the branch managers moved closely together.
As Park Minjae had mentioned, so that Unification Under Heaven would not pull the trigger. At AAU’s request, government officials of each nation had asked the Chinese government for cooperation.
However.
The North America branch manager, Jim Joshua, opened his heavy mouth.
“Even we, the United States, have been completely wiped out.”
There had been no reply from China to any country.
The Tokyo branch manager, Okazaki, tilted his head.
Even if China had not joined AAU.
“……Isn’t this unprecedented?”
They had never shown such an uncooperative attitude in the face of the Cataclysm. It meant that, with the lives of their people at stake, they had at least maintained a minimal cooperative relationship.
Park Minjae nodded.
“That’s why the members of Unification Under Heaven, including Luo Junchun, have been able to freely visit other countries until now. Even if China was not part of the international agreement, the combat power of Unification Under Heaven was clearly beneficial to humanity.”
But why was it?
“This is becoming increasingly unsettling.”
The London branch manager, Baker, swallowed a groan.
“The actions of the chief executive, who discovered the access device, will have a considerable influence on the players. If it is the chief executive I know, he will enter the Arcana Continent without hesitation.”
The Arcana Continent, ravaged by demons.
But to put it another way, it was also a land of opportunity, just as the world quest described. Park Minjae skimmed through the records of the Arcana Continent’s current situation that he had received from Hoyeol.‘Even the capital city, Antonium, is in a precarious state…….’Even the Empire that ruled the continent was in such a state.
The situation in the border regions must be beyond description.
Park Minjae judged coldly.‘But heroes are born in troubled times.’Furthermore, considering Arcana’s system…….‘Quests and rewards really won’t stop coming.’The ten adventurers, including Hoyeol, might obtain tremendous rewards that would render the rankings until now meaningless. It was not for nothing that players were drooling.
Of course, he had no intention of blaming them.‘Humans are that kind of animal.’That was why it felt so hopeless.
In the silence,
Joshua carefully opened his mouth.
“Then let us make an assumption.”
“What do you mean, Branch Manager Joshua?”
“Let’s assume we remain unable to contact the Chinese government. Regardless of the reason, Unification Under Heaven will certainly take action in some form. They may withdraw from the Zero Mountains right now and commit all their forces to finding the code rift.”
Joshua’s gaze sank seriously.
“We have no justification to stop them. As long as they are not violating the agreement, we cannot control players moving to clear a rift. Is that not so, Branch Manager Okazaki?”
“That is correct.”
When Frost appeared in Hokkaido,
the Japanese government violated the agreement and controlled the players.
As a result, they paid an enormous price for violating the international agreement.
Someone let out a hollow laugh.
“What a damned discipline that is.”
“Indeed.”
“Who exactly is that discipline for?”
It was a discipline endlessly favorable only to those who did not abide by it.
The bigger problem was that they were not the only ones to have realized that fact.
“However, unlike governments or AAU, the players will not simply stand by and watch. They, too, are not restricted in their actions, just like Unification Under Heaven.”
What those words meant was simple.
“……It is possible that a large-scale armed clash may break out among the players. And we cannot overlook the possibility of Arcana forces like the Karpen rebels joining in.”
An objective grasp of the situation, without the slightest exaggeration.
Clench—
Park Minjae clenched his fist.‘With this damned temper of mine.’He wanted to throw discipline and everything else aside.
“Damn it.”
It was frustrating.
He had thought he might be able to lend even a little strength to Hoyeol. Yet as things stood, he was of no help at all. Even so, Park Minjae desperately suppressed his emotions.‘If only it weren’t for discipline, I would…….’That was right.
Because Hoyeol was stricter about discipline than anyone.
If Hoyeol learned that he had broken discipline for his sake,
it might instead become a burden placed on him.
“You look particularly grave, Mr. Park.”
“……There is something like that.”
“I can guess.”
“……?”……How would you know how I feel?
A rebellious streak that did not break even in this situation.
Soon, what entered Park Minjae’s eyes as he raised his head was
“!”
Baker, wearing an expression just as complicated as his own.
No, it was not only Baker.
Baker opened his mouth.
“At the very least, everyone gathered here is thinking the same thing as you, Mr. Park.”
“……I overlooked their pride, even if only for a moment.”
Park Minjae smiled faintly.
Yes, the situation was much different from the past.
As they said, many hands make light work.
If they had to rack their brains, at least they could rack them together.
“If we agonize over it together, won’t some method come out of it?”
Park Minjae spoke with enthusiasm.
“Then let’s all work overtime today!”
“Mr. Park, why does the conclusion go that way……?”
“Overtime all of a sudden? Such outrageous words.”
Joshua and a few others flinched, but
there were words they had so splendidly uttered just moments ago.
Moreover, it was not for nothing that even the employees of other branches shuddered at the three syllables of Park Minjae’s name. In the end, faced with Park Minjae’s persistence, the branch managers had no choice but to nod.
“Hoo.”
Now that the communication line with China had been cut off,
they had to find the next best option.
It was the moment Park Minjae caught his breath.
Ding!
Suddenly, a notification arrived in the video chat room.
Soon, the news was shared with the branch managers.
At that news, the branch managers’ mouths fell open.
“W-wait a moment.”
“If this news is true……?”
“This might mean we don’t need to work overtime……?!”
Park Minjae swept away his goosebumps.
“……I truly cannot fathom that discipline, chief executive!”...
The Magic Tower.
It was an abrupt round-table meeting that had not been scheduled.
Because of that, attendance was not mandatory.
Yet the Crystal Hall was already full.
The skilled mage, Linne, let out a brief exclamation of admiration.
“Oho! All the seniors are present? Not only Chief Marcelo, but even Elder Yugweed? By the way, what on earth is that cat? It’s been showing up constantly for a while now……. Shouldn’t we chase it out? It’s shedding fur.”
It was Gibril who silenced Linne’s chatter.
“Why don’t you sit down before you’re the one chased out, Linne?”
“……Pardon?”
“The moment you exclaimed, though only for an instant, sharp gazes poured onto you. Cle saw it too, didn’t you? Especially the look in Senior Bensch William’s eyes as he stared at you with disapproval.”
“Hurk.”
The senior of fire magic, Bensch William.
Among the seniors, he was famous for being particularly prickly.
Of course, it would be a puzzling reputation to those who knew the truth.
“O-of all people, Senior Bensch!”
As long as he kept his mouth shut, Bensch had a noble and sharp appearance. Of course, Bensch did not have the mental leeway to pay attention to a skilled mage.
Bensch whispered to Bangrit.
“Something major has definitely happened. Senior Bangrit!”
“……You look somewhat happy.”
“No, it’s not that I’m happy……! Senior Bangrit, you would only understand if you were in my position. Do you have any idea how stifled I really am?”
Infinite rejection.
Applications to leave the tower that were endlessly returned.
The only times Bensch had ever left the Magic Tower to get a breath of fresh air were when major incidents occurred, such as the crushing of the Demon King’s Castle or the appearance of the Zero Mountains. Bensch poured out his complaint in a voice full of appeal.
“Do you think I want to become this pathetic! Huh?”
In that sense, Bensch was filled with anticipation.
Because it was none other than
Hoyeol who had urgently convened the round-table meeting.
“Chief Lee is not someone who violates discipline under ordinary circumstances.”
To put it another way,
it meant that this matter was no ordinary matter.
Could he perhaps pick up even a few scraps of permission to leave the tower?
Just as Bensch’s heart was pounding with anxious expectation.
Click—
At the scheduled time, Hoyeol appeared.
Once,
he looked around the Crystal Hall, then immediately opened his mouth.
“The purpose for which I have urgently convened this round-table meeting is simple and clear. However, as time is insufficient, I shall show you rather than tell you, in order to aid your understanding.”
Then mana rippled in midair.
Something appeared from within subspace.
Bensch narrowed his eyes.
“That is…….”……An animal’s egg?
The moment he thought that,
Hoyeol continued.
“This is the path leading to the Arcana Continent.”
“……!!!”
Apprentices, skilled mages, seniors, the chief, and even the cat Tower Master.
There was not a single exception.
In the Crystal Hall, everyone’s pupils widened....
What is pride?
The pride in this chest is so heavy.
If I were to explain it in words, I probably wouldn’t finish even if I chattered all night.
However, one thing is certain.
Swallowing this access device all to myself
is something Grandfell’s pride cannot permit.‘Honestly, I don’t think that far, though.’Clean and incorruptible.
Grandfell, who had transcended material desires, might be able to do that.
But I, Lee Hoyeol, a worldly person, was not.
Even so, the reason I could be this composed was simple.
As I said,
having entered the realm of Oddity, I had perfectly grasped the structure of the access device.‘Even without the access device, as long as I have mana.’I could tear through dimensions and enter the Arcana Continent.
That was why I could openly reveal the circumstances like this.
It meant I could stand with my chest thrust out and my back straight as usual.
I recited.
“I know that all of you, as well as everyone else, have purposes for which you must return to the Arcana Continent. No one can weigh the gravity of those purposes on a scale. However, so long as the opportunity is limited, someone must take on that role.”
You dared try to break the discipline established by pride, Raymon Sean.
It seems you do have some talent for fraud.
But I, too, have become quite seasoned in keeping discipline.
“That role, and all responsibility that follows from it as well.”
And I have also learned the knack of shouldering it.
“……!”
Just as I was about to finish speaking, my eyes met Marcelo’s.
That gaze was half surprise and half concern, Marcelo.
But there is no need to worry.
As I said, I have learned the knack, haven’t I?
This is not my first time, either.
I declared calmly.
“I alone shall bear it.”
Because the process will be no different from the review for leaving the tower.
So……
You have no reason to rejoice as you are now, Senior Bensch William.