◈ Episode 280. Starting from Zero (4)
On top of the confidence that was never absent.
And even the weight of the position of Commander-in-Chief.
Thanks to that, I had spoken arrogantly, but. ‘Even if no one else does, let’s not forget our place.’ I had skipped over countless intermediate steps until now. [Natural Enemy Relationship]
The experience I had obtained through high-level demons hunted with that at the forefront was tremendous as well. So from now on, at least. I needed to build up experience befitting a position inflated with a whole lot of bubbles. ‘In other words.’ No questions asked.
Let’s refrain from ending everything with magic.
I had to keep it in mind. I was not a mage. ‘It’s depressing in many ways.’ They say another man’s rice cake always looks bigger.
Until now, I had turned a blind eye to gathering information on other classes.
Even hearing about them in passing made my stomach hurt terribly.
However, what is the weight of being Commander-in-Chief?
One must be able to grasp the strengths and weaknesses of one’s members and put their abilities to use in the right places. To do that, one must know oneself and one’s enemy. I would also need to possess knowledge about other players’ classes. ‘Anyway, the problem is that I keep trying to shoulder everything, isn’t it?’ Because of that, I ended up opening Pandora’s box.
As a Demon Hunter, a class forgotten even in players’ memories beyond merely being a commoner class. I learned the class skills of those blessed classes I had no particular desire to know about……! ────── [Innate Mana Affinity (Master): Mana consumption efficiency increases by 100%.] [Mana Affinity Specialization
- Flame (30%): Flame magic consumption efficiency increases by 130%.] [Acquired Magical Talent (Master): Proficiency for all magic skills increases by an additional 20%.] ……. ────── Can you believe that is the skill list of an ordinary mage?
Even thinking back on it now, I feel nothing but wronged!
If it had been the skill window of a hidden class like Jesse’s, I would not have felt wronged.
I could hardly believe it and wanted to question someone.
To the point that I wanted to complain of this injustice to the Akshan seniors. ‘……
Forget it. Let’s not even talk about it.’ Of course, with those people’s personalities, they wouldn’t even pretend to hear me.
If you ask why I’m suddenly lamenting my lot.
The reason is simple. ‘Even if you call it swallowing mustard while crying, I have nothing to say…….’ In the end, it means that a Demon Hunter has no choice but to walk the path of a Demon Hunter.
Even if one formed a Circle and became a Transcendent.
It meant there was a limit to focusing on only one thing. ‘Of course, what I have isn’t magic but the anomalous…….’ To begin with, the anomalous is not limited to magic.
The anomalous, which adds together two completely different concepts, shines brighter the more it is applied.
In that sense, it was fortunate.
Because it seemed my method of growth had not been wrong. [Name: Grandfel Claudi Arpheus Romeo] [Title: Last Adventurer, Noble, Transcendent, Dark Flame Dragon] [Class: Demon Hunter] [Level: 681] [Stats]
Strength: 166 / Agility: 165 / Mana: 585 / Luck: 12 / Aesthetic: High / Tenacity: 5 [Available Points: 0]
Someone might look at this and wonder what kind of trash character this was.
Because I would look like a jack-of-all-trades whose Strength, Agility, and Mana had grown all over the place. But I had the means and methods to utilize these messy stats.
All I needed was the experience to blend them into actual combat. ‘In that sense, I won’t waste this opportunity.’ The moment I gained sufficient experience.
Only then would I be able to properly utilize.
The total sum of stats that far exceeded my level.
So the choice must have been meaningless.
The answer had been decided from the beginning.
“To think you would choose discipline. You are smarter than you look.” ……
Squeak?
Perhaps because it was so large, I could plainly see the rat making an incredulous expression. However, as I just said. The answer had already been decided, so I sincerely hoped it would cooperate while I quietly accumulated experience. [Champion Challenger Giant Rat: Lv.820]
As expected of a named monster, both its name and appearance were different.
The most unusual point was probably that it was wearing equipment.
The helmet the creature wore on its head shifted for a moment.
Squeak!
It charged toward me.
Swift manifestation.
“Before discipline, eye-level education seems to be the priority.”
If you ask where I sold off the search and interference processes.
As I said, I was so accustomed to this sort of manifestation.
That I could practically found a school called architectural magic.
Thud— As though I had risen onto the lectern of the Crystal Hall.
I looked down at the creature from atop the raised ground.
And then.
Click— I stepped out into empty air.
Of course, it was not truly empty air. This, too, was a manifestation that imitated the stairs of the Magic Tower. The moment I took a step, the rising foothold supported my stride.
Ziiing— At that moment, Gwicheol at my waist resonated.
Honestly, I don’t know who it takes after, but it wants to step forward no matter where we are.
But endure it, Gwicheol. ‘If you step in, there would be no reason I chose discipline.’ Even without changing form, Gwicheol is a [Legendary] grade weapon. Even if I did not use the 『Sword Path of Pride』 and simply swung it, it could inflict tremendous damage.
“What they need is a switch.”
I murmured and reached my hand toward the empty air.
That’s right.
This, too, was a manifestation that imitated the stairs of the Magic Tower.
Kwa-dududuk— Rock rose into the spot where I extended my hand.
When I reached a hand’s breadth farther, a hilt surged out from the rock.
This was the result of mana bullshit solely for the sake of style over substance.
The players who witnessed the sight began to murmur.
“A-a sword came out of the rock!”
“Could it be the Commander-in-Chief’s new weapon?!”
“My god. A weapon with its own entrance scene……!!”
To simply say it was a weapon rising from a rock.
If you put it that way, the mana being consumed at this moment would feel slighted. Do you have any idea how much magic is being manifested for this act meant solely for style and formality……!
Search for ore buried in the ground.
Summon the ore into the air.
Alter its form.
In an instant, apply flame and freezing magic simultaneously to increase its hardness.
At the end of that unnecessary process.
That was how I came to hold a sword in my hand.
The mana consumed?
Enormous, but. [First World Tree’s Blessing]
Since I have that, I will let it pass generously. ‘The other trouble alone is already enough.’ Among them, manifesting flame and freezing magic at the same time is the core.
Thanks to the elixirs I consumed when forming my Circle.
If I had not raised my elemental affinities, it would have been impossible. ‘In other words, it’s something I can only do after suffering like hell.’ To think they mistook my struggles for a simple item.
How utterly disappointing.
But as always, I could not show it.
So I had no choice but to engage in battle with noble composure.
Shing— Truly, there could be no stubbornness like this.
The moment I swallowed my lament and raised the sword.
A message appeared. [Tenacity is converted into Strength.] [Tenacity is converted into Agility.]
Strength and Agility, Mana.
Lastly.
Even Tenacity. ‘So this is what it feels like.’ I must not forget this sensation of operating everything as smoothly as flowing water. No, I must develop it even further. I declared this to be discipline, but somehow I feel as though I am the one learning more.
However, my shamelessness had not gone anywhere.
“Prepare yourself, small wild beast.”
I declared coldly.
“My teaching shall be strict beyond measure.” * Zero Mountains.
The Giant Alliance’s main base.
Nam Cheolmin looked at the monitors changing in real time.
The angles from players’ points of view appearing on countless screens were exactly three times more numerous than usual. Thanks to that, the number of analysts deployed was also far more crowded than usual.
One of the new analysts grinned from ear to ear.
“Three at the same time. And cave raids, at that! Not some lousy recommended level either, but at least 800? To be honest, I feel like cutting the recordings and distributing them as press material.”
The Giant Alliance of Gaon, Inazuma, and Berserker.
The momentum of the Giant Alliance in its early days had been enough to easily topple the strongholds that Shining and Cheonha Tongil had built up. But who would have thought Cheonha Tongil would make the first move before the very people who had established the alliance?
“If we showed only this, even the antis would quiet down for a while.”
“Antis? You were worrying about things like that?”
“Of course I’m worried! There are quite a lot of them, too.”
Nam Cheolmin tilted his head. ‘Even if you call them antis…….’ They’re probably all Cheonha Tongil’s operations.
Nam Cheolmin had been exposed countless times to Cheonha Tongil’s cheap tricks ever since Gaon was classified as a rookie. He could tell at a glance. Thanks to that, Nam Cheolmin spoke as if it were nothing important.
“Well, I doubt that would make them quiet down. And above all, this isn’t a raid possible because we’re impressive, is it? Everything is thanks to the Commander-in-Chief taking the time for us.”
“Ah……. That’s true too.”
“Still, wouldn’t it have some meaning? That our Giant Alliance is close enough with Commander-in-Chief Lee Hoyeol to raid the caves of the Zero Mountains together…….”
“Now that’s quite the pride-lacking statement.”
“……
Hup. I’ll just keep my mouth shut.”
Before the Commander-in-Chief gives us a scolding.
I’ll have to thoroughly educate the newcomers on etiquette first, won’t I?
It was the moment Nam Cheolmin made that resolve.
The full-fledged raid situation began to be transmitted.
The first to move into action was Nam Taemin.
-The formation is favorable to us! ‘Luck is with you, Taemin.’
It was not a cave where special rules applied.
Back when Arcana was nothing more than a game.
Its form was no different from the countless dungeons they had raided.
“The raid speed isn’t fast because of the level gap, but the mobs’ patterns are simple. And he’s drawing aggro so outstandingly that support doesn’t seem necessary for the time being!”
Nam Cheolmin nodded.
“I agree.”
The true value of his younger brother, Nam Taemin, revealed itself in raids.
Movements like those of a beast that had lost its reason.
No matter how formidable the enemy, they could not help but be drawn to those movements. ‘As long as Taemin’s stamina holds out.’ Special support did not seem necessary.
The same was true for Leoni’s side.
No, to begin with, over there……. ‘In truth, unless it’s an extreme situation, support isn’t needed.’ Berserkers, blood mages, bow dancers, and so on.
Leoni’s party was made up mostly of Berserker guild members.
Because the guild’s color, which grew stronger the more they were driven into a corner, was so prominent.
Nam Cheolmin pushed up his glasses.
“Don’t take your eyes off them. Observe carefully.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Taemin or Leoni.
Given their personalities, neither of the two would ask for support first.
Judging the situation was solely his responsibility.
It was the moment Nam Cheolmin loosened his shoulders to shake off the considerable weight on them.
“This side really is no ordinary matter, is it?”
The serious voice came from where Hisagi was. Indeed, as befitting the cave with the highest recommended level, he had expected unusual rules to apply.
“They called it a sanctuary, didn’t they?”
“Yes, to be exact, it is the Small Champion’s Sanctuary.”
“It’s certainly different from the other side starting with the atmosphere.”
The pressure transmitted through the screen.
The scale.
Even the level of the monsters pouring out.
The analyst watching the battle situation trailed off.
“To think a 50-level difference would be this significant…….”
Nam Cheolmin shook his head.
“The time when we judged everything simply by level may have passed.”
“……
What do you mean by that?”
“I mean it’s difficult to determine the difficulty level by recommended level alone. You know, just as the difficulty of raiding monsters of the same level can vary wildly.”
It was not something he thought of because he possessed exceptional analytical ability.
-Recommended levels and stats are nothing more than numbers to me.
It was merely a fact he had realized while mulling over Hoyeol’s words.
Of course, even if the [Small Champion’s Sanctuary Beneath the Mountains]
was a cave filled with more troublesome elements than expected, there was no concern. Because on Hisagi’s side, there was none other than Hoyeol.
Nam Cheolmin gave a firm nod. ‘The Commander-in-Chief’s presence is enormous beyond compare.’ So enormous that, on the other hand, it was worrisome.
After all, even if they accompanied him.
Could the others really follow behind Hoyeol? ‘Far from narrowing, the gap might widen even further.’ However, Nam Cheolmin was overlooking one thing.
Among the words Hoyeol had spoken, there had certainly been.
-There is no need to worry, for I am here.
Those words included as well.
“S-Senior Analyst!”
An urgent voice called for him.
Nam Cheolmin raised his head and looked at the monitor.
A light bright enough to sting the eyes pierced into them.
To be exact, inside the monitor screen.
“……?!”
There was a massive “something” radiating dazzling light.
It was footage taken from a player’s point of view.
Because of that, they could not identify what it was.
However, there was a voice being transmitted along with it.
-I-it’s the Goddess!! ……
Wait, if they said Goddess.
Could it be.
The Goddess of the Goddess Church?
Clatter!
Nam Cheolmin immediately sat in front of the monitor and put on a headset.
Then he asked the players.
A Goddess in the sanctuary.
Perhaps this might become information more important than the raid itself.
“Could you explain in a little more detail?”
-Analyst Nam?
“Did you say Goddess?”
-Ah, yes! No matter how I look at it, I can only think that’s what it is. Because this absurd buff called the First World Tree’s Blessing is active throughout the area……!”
“……
The First World Tree’s Blessing, you say?”
He had not heard the effect.
But World Tree; just hearing the name made it sound like an incredible buff.
That alone was a development shocking enough.
But it did not end there.
-L-look over there!!
The players murmured once again.
The camera’s view shifted.
Soon, Hoyeol’s figure appeared on the monitor.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Hoyeol walked through the air, embroidering it with stairs.
It was astonishing, but it was not the first time they had witnessed it.
Yes, the reason Nam Cheolmin and the other analysts were horrified was.
“A s-sword from a stone……?”
Kudududuk!
Because Hoyeol had drawn a sword from the rock.
The analysts were already erudite to begin with.
So even when they spread the wings of imagination, it could only be concrete and plausible.
Nam Cheolmin, who was one of them, opened his mouth as if wondering whether it could be.
“E-E-E-Excalibur……!!”
Words that would make Hoyeol recoil in horror if he heard them.