◈ Episode 269. Far Too Much to Refuse (1)
─Restore the glory of the once-brilliant Empire. (In Progress)
●Restore the collapsed city of Makima. (Success)
●Restore the collapsed village of Holdemwood. (Success)
●Restore the collapsed city of Polestar. (Success)
…….
Success.
Success.
A chain of successes.
As if that arrogant mouth of his would stay quiet.
“How unremarkable.”
Wouldn’t it look as if I had accomplished something truly incredible in the eyes of others? Especially from the perspective of the Imperial soldiers, I must have seemed no different from some grand mage who had suddenly popped out of a portal.
“I do not even know what to call this…….”
The bearded Imperial officer, Bones, trailed off.
Even to me, it was enough to leave one speechless.
In less than half a day, the collapsed walls had been restored perfectly.
No, they had risen even more magnificently than before.
“The magic I know was never like this…….”
That was true.
The Arcana Continent was a land where magic existed, but not all magic was the same. I felt sorry for the mages affiliated with the Empire, but if they were evaluated by the standards of the Magic Tower…….
‘At best, experienced mages?’
No, most of them were not even at the level of apprentice mages.
Of course, that was because the Magic Tower, called the strongest armed organization on the Arcana Continent, was simply too outstanding. It was by no means that the Imperial mages were lacking.
“I do not know how we could ever express our gratitude for this grace.”
Bones, the Imperial army, and the survivors repeatedly expressed their thanks.
And in front of them, I did not puff myself up.
Because my conscience would prick me if I acted smug here……!
‘I never thought my desperate struggles would come back like this.’
Back in the past, when I had nothing.
To think that the experience of raising walls to survive, collapsing them again with Reversal Magic, and even adorning them with stairs would prove useful. On top of that, it had not happened just once or twice.
Granfell could perfectly manifest something after witnessing it only once, and he had manifested it repeatedly?
Naturally, that manifestation power was…….
‘Wouldn’t it be fine to found another one? Architectural Magic.’
It could only be tremendous.
I admired the majestic ramparts.
They had not merely been stacked up.
There was a saying that only those who had eaten meat knew its taste.
‘And only those who have built walls know how to build them solidly.’
Even if catapults hurled boulders at them.
Wouldn’t they be able to withstand several dozen shots?
That was how sturdy they seemed.
And that was not all.
‘On top of that, aesthetics.’
The reason I had added [Aesthetic] was simple.
Hadn’t I looked around the imperial palace as if appraising it with an eye for beauty?
A wall as splendid as the imperial palace itself.
Only such a thing could become a symbol of Imperial territory.
In simple terms.
“Actions speak louder than words.”
It was simply Granfell’s self-satisfaction.
‘……
Yeah, who am I supposed to blame?’
In truth, the reason I could waste mana like this was also thanks to the halo of the great Claudi. Above all, I couldn’t keep sneering forever. I had received something too.
A whole lot, at that!
───────
Current Contribution: 300,723,000p
──────
Even if rounded down to the nearest hundred thousand, it was still hundreds of millions.
‘More astonishing than the reward money for clearing a Rift.’
This was not my first time experiencing the contribution system.
I had experienced the contribution system during the recapture of Frost, after all.
But this was my first time seeing contribution points on this scale.
If Arcana had still been nothing more than a game…….
‘I would’ve definitely thought it was a bug.’
But it was not a game.
So let’s think this through.
And for that, I first had to shamelessly steel my mind.
I muttered inwardly.
‘It’s all because I’m amazing.’
Self-praise.
This, too, was thanks to learning that people did not die from shame alone.
Once again, I am grateful to everyone in Antonium……!
In any case.
When I changed my perspective, I began to understand. To me, it truly was not some grand task, so I had spoken of it lightly……. But objectively speaking, this was on the level of an Imperial miracle.
‘It’s something that could not be accomplished by the Empire’s power alone.’
One only had to look at the scene before me to know.
“Goddess…….”
A survivor knelt before the walls, clasping both hands together in prayer. It was something that could not be explained unless it truly was divine grace.
‘Neither I nor Granfell have any religion, though.’
But I was not so tactless as to preach atheism to survivors overcome with emotion. The Imperial soldiers were watching the moved survivors, just as I was. Bones opened his mouth on their behalf.
“We will ensure that we do not disgrace the miracle you have bestowed.”
As a demon hunter, I could recognize it.
That light in his eyes was alive.
Truly, no matter what demon came rushing at them, they would not break.
‘However.’
I answered.
“No. You have done well until now.”
“……?!”
At my words, Bones wore a puzzled expression.
He must have been wondering what I suddenly meant.
For a wall to be a wall, soldiers were needed to defend it.
Bones and the soldiers must have resolved to defend the walls even at the cost of their lives.
That was why I said it.
“You no longer need to stake your lives.”
“!”
Bones asked with a look of disbelief.
“……
Has His Majesty perhaps issued an order to withdraw?”
Then he swept his gaze around with a complicated expression.
The Zero Mountains.
The nearby small city of Polestar.
Now that the Zero Mountains had flooded into reality.
Polestar was no different from having been cast alone onto the continent.
Bones also seemed to know that.
And so, soon after, he spoke in a resolute voice.
“Even so, we cannot obey.”
Clack—
At once, Bones and the Imperial soldiers bowed their heads.
The meaning of that action was simple.
“If my soldiers and I withdraw from Polestar, the new walls will become meaningless. Polestar will immediately fall again to demons. Or to villains……!”
He was not wrong.
As could be seen, the majority of Polestar’s survivors were only the elderly and the weak.
I could understand and respect Bones’s decision to disobey.
And it was not only I who understood.
Granfell would be the same.
No, beyond merely understanding it.
“I have recognized your pride.”
“……?”
Bones’s action itself.
From the perspective of pride, it was the correct answer.
That was why, all the more, there was no need for them to stake their lives.
“And.”
……
Thud!
A tremendous roar sounded while I was speaking.
Thud, thud!
No, to be precise, perhaps it was better to say it reverberated.
Because each time that roar rang out, it was enough to make one’s body jolt.
‘Truly, it feels strange to say this with my own mouth…….’
Now that the legend of the Dark Dragon Lee Hoyeol was spreading.
A being on the Arcana Continent that moved while making such a roar?
There was only one, after all.
I continued.
“Akshan has recognized your pride.”
“!”
That was right.
Akshan’s legacy.
The Quirnberg Machine Tower.
Through Hiel, I had asked the dwarves.
The number of Quirnberg Machine Towers currently in operation.
And whether they could grasp their condition.
The answer returned through Hiel.
‘Currently, seventy percent of the Machine Towers are active.’
Considering that the tide of the Arcana Continent had turned over to the demons, its combat results were worthy of being called Akshan’s legacy. But while watching the Sword Saint, Shegwin, I had realized something.
The Quirnberg Machine Tower was ultimately Akshan as well!
Most of the Quirnberg Machine Tower was composed of silver.
Thanks to that, it was an enemy of demons even greater than a demon hunter, but against those other than demons, it could not help being relatively weak.
In simple terms, it had a screw loose. Like a demon hunter facing an enemy that was not a demon.
‘In that sense.’
Deploying the Quirnberg Machine Towers to the recaptured cities was the best decision. The Empire had the underlying strength to withstand any enemy other than demons, and the Quirnberg Machine Towers were unbelievably good at hunting demons.
‘They can cover each other’s weaknesses.’
The only problem had been.
The difficult approval of pride.
But that had been needless worry.
In this situation, those without pride would have abandoned the Empire long ago.
Even so, someone would surely ask.
Would Akshan permit that?
“Akshan……. They are……?”
At that name, Bones grew flustered and hesitated.
It seemed that thanks to his rank, he knew at least the rough circumstances.
The moment Akshan fell.
The fact that the Empire had been of no help whatsoever.
That was why he was likely worried.
“……
How could we, soldiers of the Empire, receive Akshan’s aid?”
But do not underestimate Akshan.
Our seniors were not the type to hold grudges for so long.
In the first place, with their personalities, they would have burned away such petty feelings while training their bodies. Besides, above all else, if it meant being able to hunt demons, our seniors would approve of anything.
Carrying that meaning, I spoke in my own way.
“Akshan does not turn away from those who suffer at the hands of demons.”
“……!”
“Even if they are enemies who once let go of its hand.”
Even from the perspective of Akshan’s final survivor, it was reasonable.
They could hunt demons more efficiently.
There was no reason not to cooperate with the Empire.
[The Quirnberg Machine Tower is guarding ‘Polestar’.]
Thud!
Like a sentinel.
Starting with the Machine Tower that came to a stop before Polestar.
Similar messages appeared one after another before my eyes.
[The Quirnberg Machine Tower is guarding ‘Holdemwood’.]
…….
‘It seems they’ve arrived at the other cities too.’
Finally.
The contribution points began to flash once again.
Let’s see, should I try to guess before checking?
Since I gained three hundred million points from construction…….
Couldn’t I gain at least around ten million points?
I was counting my chickens before they hatched.
But soon.
After checking the message, I once again.
Could not hide my shock.
One, ten, hundred…….
Hundred million…….
……
A b-b-b-billion?!!
*
Nash placed his hand on the Imperial magic tool, the 『Astrologer’s Crystal Ball』.
It was to confirm the story Hoyeol had delivered.
Dry saliva went down his throat on its own.
‘Calm down.’
Worry came first.
The other party was the Dark Dragon, a living legend.
‘……
What if it seems like I’m doubting him?’
Perhaps he might be incurring the Dark Dragon’s wrath.
If his elder brother in the Magic Tower heard this, he would surely call him a frog in a well……. Even so, Nash himself was the greatest mage in the Empire. Thanks to that, he could recognize it.
The pure, high-grade mana flowing from Hoyeol!
His throat was still parched.
‘More astonishing than the amount is the regenerative power…….’
It was enough to make him mistake that surging mana for something infinite.
Because he possessed such mana, he must have declared it with such confidence.
—“I alone am enough.”
He did not know about His Majesty or the others.
But Nash knew the abilities of a mage well. For a mage on Hoyeol’s level, reconstructing city walls and returning within half a day was nothing remarkable.
That was why he could only resent this situation.
He understood that it was an unavoidable rule and procedure.
‘But why did that procedure have to be mine……!’
The problem was that it was his duty.
The moment the Dark Dragon left the imperial palace.
His Majesty had spoken.
—“Ministers, hear me. What I conveyed to Sir Hoyeol was not an order, but a request. A fitting reward must naturally follow. I trust your thoughts are the same as mine.”
When His Majesty said so, no one opposed him.
Moreover, the idea that every deed deserved a fitting reward.
It was practically a rule of the Empire.
‘Even if it cannot be helped because it is a procedure necessary for the reward……!’
It could only be deeply burdensome.
The one fortunate thing was that the Dark Dragon.
He had shown understanding.
Unlike a mage, he had even nodded mercifully.
“If that is the procedure, I shall gladly comply.”
Only then did Nash swallow a sigh of relief.
Then he moved his trembling hand.
He carefully opened his mouth.
“Then……! I shall use the Astrologer’s Crystal Ball.”
There was no need to confirm every city.
If he examined Polestar, the farthest from Antonium, he would be able to infer the state of the other cities as well. Thinking that, Nash peered into Polestar, and his face turned deathly pale.
“Huh……. Huh?”
Huh, he said.
In front of the Emperor, a legend, and the ministers.
He had been so astonished that he uttered an informal sound.
It could not be helped.
“I-Impossible…….”
More than Antonium’s walls.
Walls taller, thicker, and even more splendid had risen, perfectly encircling Polestar. And that was not all. There was even a Quirnberg Machine Tower standing there as if escorting Polestar.
Nash touched the crystal ball.
“My apologies. I shall confirm again……!”
He had thought that checking Polestar alone would suffice.
But after confirming it, doubts arose instead.
If the walls had simply been built up, he could have understood.
But was that not anything but a “simple” wall?
Perhaps he had devoted all his time to Polestar alone…….
“!”
However, Nash froze in place.
Unable to put the shock into words, he looked at the Emperor.
The Emperor placed his hand on the crystal ball after Nash.
“Ah…….”
Soon, he let out an exclamation.
Then.
“Everyone in the imperial palace, listen.”
He shouted in a resolute voice.
“Open the underground treasury of the imperial palace immediately!”
“……!!!”
...
Yes, give and take.
If I had listened quietly, it would have been a perfect situation.
But this damned pride of incorruptible integrity, indifferent to wealth and glory.
There was no way it could stay still in a situation like this……!
The hall grew noisy.
“His merit is acknowledged, but……!”
“To open the imperial palace’s underground treasury……?”
“Your Majesty, that decision is!”
I opened my mouth coldly.
“Do you think I desire such a paltry price?”
“……!!!”
Farewell, treasures of the Empire……!
It was the moment I was trying to resign myself to the usual loose tongue.
The Emperor and his retainers.
The direction of the conversation flowing between them was ominous.
……
Wait a minute.
Not just the underground treasury, but the depths?
And what is the Library of the War Emperor supposed to be?
This, somehow, feels like they misunderstood what I meant?!