◈ Episode 271. Promise (1)
An emperor’s chamber of antique elegance.
Teacups so splendid they dazzled the eye.
And the green tea bag inside the cup, breaking the atmosphere.
Clack—more importantly, it was a tale even more shocking than the sight before me.
I flinched, but set down the teacup without showing it.
Then I opened my mouth.
“So there were such circumstances.”
A rift.
An anomalous space.
And yet it was the War Emperor’s Library, possessing effects as absurd as an anomaly.
As expected, great power came with great responsibility.
The War Emperor’s Library—the price for using it was lifespan. The emperors of the Empire had exchanged their own lifespans for answers that could overcome crises in the War Emperor’s Library. That was how they had protected the Empire.
“However, I am not afraid. No, I suppose I must not be afraid. The moment I feel even the slightest fear, I will lose the right to face my father and the previous emperors.”
The emperor had apparently never entered the War Emperor’s Library yet.
Even if I asked what the inside of the War Emperor’s Library was like, he would not know.
The emperor, smiling bitterly, added one more thing to me.
“Could you keep this secret from others?”
It seemed everyone knew about the War Emperor’s Library, but…
They likely did not know what its price was.
That was why they could speak of it so lightly.
“When the time comes, I will reveal everything myself.”
If he went that far, I had to keep his secret.
But still.
Would the day when he revealed it really come?
‘It was clearly a rift.’
Let me recall it again.
The information on the War Emperor’s Library.
[War Emperor’s Library]
[Appropriate Level: Unable to Measure]
[Collapse Progress: 92.7%]
First, the appropriate level.
According to the emperor, only those with the qualities of a “monarch” could enter the War Emperor’s Library. The moment one entered, the decision could not be reversed, nor could the lost lifespan be restored.
‘He said he received training for that as well.’
A human lifespan was limited.
Meaning one could not ask questions repeatedly.
Thanks to that, the emperor said he had undergone training to obtain the greatest number of answers with the minimum number of questions. So the oratory that spread the legend of the Dark Dragon was learned back then too, was it?
‘I smell it here too.’
That sickening stench of a dysfunctional family…!
Even if he was born wearing a crown.
Training from childhood to use his lifespan efficiently?
Isn’t that too much?
Even back then, when I was steeped in bizarre tastes.
I really wouldn’t have written such a setting into the Claudi family.
In any case, even if they were not as bad as the World Tree family, this side was sufficiently dysfunctional as well. And that was not the only problem. I could not overlook the fact that the War Emperor’s Library was a rift.
‘What happens if it collapses, even by chance?’
Based on the player experience I had accumulated so far…
The structure likely caused the [War Emperor’s Library]’s collapse progress to rise each time its power was borrowed.
At that point, I declared.
“I will never reveal that fact.”
“Thank you for understanding—”
“Nor will you ever have occasion to reveal it.”
“……
What do you mean by that?”
“Because you will have no occasion to enter the War Emperor’s Library.”
“……
Pardon?”
Rifts were not common on the Arcana continent, so he did not seem to know well.
The moment the War Emperor’s Library collapses.
No one can predict what will happen to Antonium.
‘I have to stop it, even now.’
92.7 percent.
There is a reason people say the fastest time is when you think it is already too late. Let’s think as positively as possible. If it is never used again from now on, then it is no different from 0 percent.
To be honest, if I had my way…
‘How rifts are treated in this world.’
I wanted to explain it in great detail.
But I had learned a lesson after speaking from the podium of the Magic Tower’s Crystal Hall.
Even if I explained it a hundred times in words.
No one would be able to understand a concept from a completely different world perfectly.
‘Grandfel is the strange one.’
Thanks to that, I had no choice but to put forward another reason for now.
Of course, no matter how well-intentioned this damned pride was.
I could not utter words I did not mean.
So, as always, I had no choice but to declare confidently.
“Beyond the Empire, no situation that could be called a desperate crisis will ever again come upon the Arcana continent.”
“……!”
“I will make it so.”
Truly, when it comes to confidence, it is astonishing beyond belief.
The emperor reacted to my words.
……
The corners of his mouth slowly rose?
‘Is he laughing at me?’
Rather than getting angry, I became terribly embarrassed.
Yes, even I thought it was arrogant after saying it.
How absurd must it have sounded to the emperor?
That was what I thought, but it did not seem to be ridicule.
“How truly strange.”
Soon, his serious voice continued.
“It feels as though you, Sir, are carrying the same burden as I am… No, a burden even heavier than mine. Thanks to that, your words truly reach my heart.”
Is that so?
In truth, even objectively speaking, I was carrying far too many burdens.
Perhaps that was where he sensed the sincerity.
“That is why every word you speak comes to me as comfort.”
The emperor smiled faintly again.
But perhaps because I had seen him smile just before, I could tell the difference.
This one was a bitter smile tinged with bitter emotion.
‘Separate from his trust in me.’
As emperor, he probably could not easily lay down his burden.
Well, I was not in a position to get angry because he did not trust me.
That, too, must be the emperor’s pride.
But he could believe at least this one thing.
『For Grandfel, the emotion called humility did not exist. If he was underestimated, he proved himself. If he was overestimated, he made it reality, no matter what.』
Even if it sounds like a bluff now.
I, Grandfel, will make it happen.
No, to be precise, I will struggle until it happens.
So you may watch, Emperor.
If possible, live long, long enough to see it.
*
The promised day had arrived.
The top floor of the Magic Tower.
The Tower Master licked his fur with his tongue.
“Is this not terribly grand, Chief Marcelo?”
“What do you mean, Tower Master?”
“You call it the promised day, and it sounds as though we have been awaiting this moment with great anticipation, does it not? It has only been a single day. I am asking whether this welcome is not excessive.”
A single day in the real world.
And only four days by the time of the Arcana continent.
And yet, look at the people gathered on the top floor of the Magic Tower.
The Tower Master, an elder, the chief, and every senior mage had been summoned.
“It is more lavish than when I returned.”
“Are you perhaps jealous?”
“What if I am?”
“Your tail is swaying, Tower Master. As expected, you have become poor at lying.”
“Tsk. If only it weren’t for this beast’s body.”
Marcelo continued with a smile.
“Even so, it is not excessive. It is not Sir’s first time entering the Arcana continent, but this time, he has a companion, does he not? We must pay attention beyond simply celebrating their safe return.”
As though the Magic Tower had mobilized in full force.
The reason they were waiting for Hoyeol on the top floor was simple.
Aside from Hoyeol, it could be called the first.
To commemorate a round trip between reality and the Arcana continent.
At the same time, it was to respond to any unforeseen situation.
Healing magic.
Pure magic.
Black magic……
The twenty senior mages were experts in their respective fields.
Even if some unknown abnormality occurred to Hoyeol’s companion, Kichi, while moving between reality and the Arcana continent, they would be able to respond swiftly from various angles.
The senior of pure mana studies, Bangrit, whispered.
“……
But will we really be necessary?”
The senior of fire magic, Bensch, replied in a voice that made the whisper meaningless.
“There you go again. Are you going to say something so lacking in confidence again?”
“That’s not it… Chief Lee is here, isn’t he?”
“Tsk, tsk. You know one thing but not the other, Senior Bangrit.”
“Yes……?”
For the first time in a while, Bensch squared his shoulders.
He had no choice.
In a place like this, the only person before whom Bensch could proudly puff out his chest was Bangrit, who was younger than him and possessed a naive nature. Bensch whispered as though teaching his younger brother, Nash, a lesson.
“This is all about fostering fellowship……!”
“……
Fostering fellowship?”
“That’s right. In truth, everyone here knows it! If a problem were to arise, Chief Lee would surely solve it. However, more than intention, sincerity that is visible to the eye is extremely important.”
“Visible sincerity is important……?”
“Why, in noble society……”
Bensch was about to continue, then realized something and added.
“Ah, I am absolutely not looking down on you because you are of common birth, Bangrit. I swear it on the proud William family. This is merely to help you understand.”
“……
Haha. Of course.”
Bensch was often misunderstood because of his light words and actions, but Bangrit knew his sincerity.
If he had intended to discriminate against him as a commoner.
Senior Bensch would not have even conversed with him in the first place.
“It means that even behaviors that seem extremely unnecessary and inefficient all contain meaning. For example, the very fact that there is an order in which to use the utensils placed at a banquet!”
“Ah……!”
The moment he heard the kind example, he understood.
“I also struggled quite a bit because I was not used to it.”
After entering the Magic Tower, he did not know how much he had agonized over it for a while.
At the Magic Tower banquets held on every anniversary, Bangrit had grumbled, asking if nobles had several hands and whether that was why they used several spoons and forks.
“You mean this is a similar situation, right?”
“That is right! Would this not be what we call formality?”
“Hmm……”
Bangrit trailed off.
Thanks to Bensch, he understood, but something felt oddly off.
Chief Lee did value formality, but he did not place importance on empty formalities……
Back when Hoyeol had just been acknowledged as co-chief.
‘I know that well because I experienced it myself.’
To curry favor with such a Hoyeol.
Bangrit had visited his office and been turned away at the door.
Whether Bensch knew of his circumstances or not.
He even laughed softly.
“That is why I have been diligently looking through books lately. Why, do you know the book called The Noble’s Writing? Just the number of pages alone is in the thousands……”
At that point, Bangrit was certain.
‘You’ve missed the mark again, Senior Bensch.’
The reason his application to leave the tower was invariably rejected was not because of his greetings. Bangrit wanted to tell him the core of the issue, but he did not have the leisure to do so.
—I-I’m sorry……!
At that moment, telepathy rang in his head.
And it had not been delivered only to Bangrit.
The senior mages flinched.
“……!”
The instant they exchanged glances, they understood.
This was telepathy delivered to every senior mage.
Marcelo, the elder Yugwid, and the Tower Master also noticed.
Yugwid quipped.
“Oh dear, it seems there is nothing for us.”
Now that every mage senior and above had gathered on the top floor of the Magic Tower.
The one who had sent telepathy could be, at most, a skilled mage.
It was only natural that a senior mage would not dare send telepathy to the chief, an elder, or the Tower Master.
The Tower Master said indifferently.
“So, what is the matter?”
Telepathy within the Magic Tower, from inside to inside.
It was not a common occurrence.
Soon, the senior mages opened their mouths.
Because the news was so unbelievable.
They trailed off, uncertain.
“……
They say an uninvited guest has entered the Magic Tower.”
“?”
It was something unprecedented.
Both before the Cataclysm.
And after.
Naturally so.
The strongest military organization in Arcana.
The majesty of the Magic Tower had been even greater in the past than it was now.
Yugwid and the Tower Master looked at each other.
“Does this not pique your interest, Tower Master?”
However, Marcelo cut off their curiosity in advance.
“Has the identity of the uninvited guest been identified?”
Matisse bowed his head.
“I will ask immediately.”
Even then, Marcelo did not regard it as serious.
Unlike in the past, the Magic Tower had been opened. Reporters holding cameras were stationed in its lobby, and players constantly warped in through portals.
‘Even if they entered the upper floors.’
If they were skilled mages, they would be fully capable of settling the situation.
In other words, he had not been worried.
But the moment Matisse’s brow furrowed.
Marcelo sensed it.
It seemed the situation was flowing differently from what he had expected.
Matisse opened his mouth.
“The intruder broke through the encirclement of the skilled mages.”
“……!!!”
“They are attempting to enter the Crystal Hall.”
Marcelo asked back without panic.
“And their identity?”
“They are not an adventurer, but an Arcanian……”
Matisse’s gaze sank.
“They say it is one of the members of the Shadow Mercenary Corps.”
The Shadow Mercenary Corps.
The moment that name came out.
Yugwid’s expression hardened.
“The damn Shadow Mercenary Corps……”
The gentle giant, Yugwid.
The giant, who rarely showed his emotions, was displaying his discomfort openly. He had no choice. Yugwid had a small bad history with the Shadow Mercenary Corps.
Yugwid opened his mouth.
“I will handle the uninvited guest.”
They did not know for what reason they had approached the Magic Tower.
But that was clearly a mistake.
Yugwid murmured softly.
“I never thought they could be fixed and used from the beginning.”
It was the moment he was about to take a step.
“……?”
Shuoooooo—!
The top floor.
A radiant cluster of mana light floated in the air.
Everyone present could recognize it.
“!!!”
That was not an ordinary portal.
Only one who had reached the realm could manifest it.
A portal connecting dimension to dimension.
Soon, a familiar sound came from within the cluster of portal light.
Click—
The voice of the chief mage, Hoyeol, was heard.
“It is not an uninvited guest.”
Hoyeol said so.
……
What did it mean?
It was the moment everyone was chewing over those words.
“This, too, was within my expectations.”
……
Expectations?
How could Chief Lee, who had been on the Arcana continent, anticipate the situation here? Everyone was lost in doubt for only a moment, and only after the portal had completely disappeared did they realize it.
Through the access device.
The leader of the Shadow Mercenary Corps.
Kichi, who had headed to the Arcana continent with Hoyeol, was nowhere to be seen.
Hoyeol adjusted his clothes and opened his mouth.
“So they mean to act in place of the captain who failed to keep her promise.”
His cold voice turned toward Yugwid.
“Would you yield the place, Elder Mage Yugwid?”
“Yield it, Chief Lee……?”
“I shall ‘strictly’ confirm their pride myself.”