◈ Chapter 297. It’s a Living Hell……! (1)
If hell exists for demons,
then for me, Lee Hoyeol, reality exists.
I seriously find myself thinking that. ‘Wouldn’t the Arcana Continent be better at this point?’ Endless, deep darkness, Black Dark Dragon, and whatever else…….
Now that just about everything, save for that cumbersome full name, has been exposed,
I can’t help but think the Arcana Continent might be better for my mental state than reality. ‘At least there are no mortal enemies there.’ A proper lesson.
As Nam Cheolmin said, the effect was considerable.
After taking down the great evil, the Seven Deadly Sin Envy,
it was like pouring oil on the already blazing interest aimed at me.
—No wonder he took down a great evilㄷㄷㄷㄷ [The one chosen by Excalibur, Lee Hoyeol]
The video had not only captured the scene of me drawing the sword. While I was browsing the Strange, looking through the comments, the video that played automatically carried a player’s voice.
—“A-A goddess……!!”
That was right.
There was Hiel, who had not been affected by the cave’s special nature.
Indeed, seeing it from the players’ point of view……. ‘I can understand why they called her a goddess.’ They really only saw the hem of her clothes, huh?
No matter how high the camera angle was raised, Hiel’s face was never captured. As for the comments’ reactions, did they even need to be said? And yet, as if I had expected everything.
My mouth ran on with ease.
“Gods do not exist to begin with.”
If you were going to mutter that, couldn’t you have done it a little earlier……!
Of course, complaining about it now wouldn’t change anything.
And I know that if I can’t avoid it, I should enjoy it.
Still, seeing the bubble swell to such an extent makes my heart uneasy.
And was that bubble just any ordinary bubble?
It was sparkling so much that it was practically……
Knock, knock.
What woke me from my lingering grumbling was a knock.
A shameless iron mask that never loses composure.
Without needing to hide any sign, I answered at once.
“Come in, Marcelo.”
“I apologize for troubling you as soon as you returned, sir.”
“That is an outrageous thing to say.”
Thanks to Marcelo, the Unification Under Heaven.
Hadn’t I perfectly countered Liuo Junchun’s petty trick?
Just look at what results that counterattack had produced in a mere few days. ‘It feels like I pulled out a thorn that had been stuck in my eye.’ The restoration of the honor of the Claudi and Lee families.
I had not forgotten to play the filial son through it, either.
In other words, it had passed even Grandfel’s strict standards, Marcelo.
Marcelo let out a small exclamation of admiration.
“If you think so, then I am relieved. By the way, did you settle the remaining matter well? I did, in my own way, investigate through the Strange, but…….”
What he took out as he said that was
the smartphone I had activated and gifted to him.
As expected of Marcelo.
Teach him one thing, and he knows ten.
He had investigated the Strange on his own.
No, it seemed he had become familiar enough with its usage to surf the internet by himself.
“Of course.”
“That, too, is a relief, sir.”
There was no way Marcelo had requested a meeting just to exchange idle chatter. Soon, Marcelo got to the main point. This time, it was truly a story about [『the Strange』].
A grave resolve settled in Marcelo’s pupils.
“There has been progress regarding the Strange, and the research concerning it.”
At the same time, my vision flickered. [Quest: Marcelo’s Research]
The Magic Tower’s Chief Mage, Marcelo.
In order to reach magic that has advanced by one dimension,
he wishes to be with you. ─The Weight of the Chief (Repeat) ▲ ─Approach to the Strange (Success) ─Progress Toward the Strange (In Progress)
It was Marcelo’s quest, which I had not seen in a while.
Perhaps because it had been a while, the quest objective that had been in progress had changed to success.
And a new quest objective had appeared.
Drifting.
The parchment Marcelo held floated in the air.
What filled the parchment was Marcelo’s handwriting.
“It was an unfamiliar concept, so I simply could not organize my thoughts without moving my hand. As I moved my quill, I found myself admiring you anew, sir. How are you able to contain such a vast concept in your mind?”
There is no need to be impressed, Marcelo.
My usual posture.
My expression did not change in the slightest, but. ‘I tried that, too.’ Back when I couldn’t distinguish between skills and magic.
I was the one who stayed up all night filling pages, trying to understand the players’ skills I had seen on NetTube. Was it thanks to experience, as expected? Or thanks to talent?
Understanding Marcelo’s research paper was not difficult.
“A new approach toward the Arcana Continent, is it.”
What would I have done without Marcelo?
The greatest talent in the history of the Magic Tower.
The founder of theoretical physics.
Marcelo had perfectly explained the access device’s interference process in writing! As expected, because I had once entered the Arcana Continent by imitating the manifestation process of an access device, I was able to continue speaking.
“It is an interference process so excellent that it cannot even be compared to such a trifling thing.”
Here, “such a trifling thing” referred to the access device.
Raymon Sean, no different from a demon to Grandfel.
It was an access device made by that Raymon Sean.
It was only natural for Grandfel to treat it coldly. ‘No, apart from that, this really is amazing, Marcelo.’ To think he could produce such results without entering the realm of the Strange. Above all, there was no unnecessary excess in the interference. Thanks to that, mana consumption would also be greatly reduced.
Marcelo added an explanation regarding that.
“If we can apply this concept to the Magic Tower’s portal, I anticipate that not only the people of Arcana, but adventurers as well, will be able to enter the Arcana Continent without restriction.”
The Magic Tower’s portal, huh.
The Magic Tower’s portal in the lobby was special. I did not know its principle precisely, but it manifested constantly regardless of mana. It was the Magic Tower’s portal that moved players all over the world.
I nodded quietly.
“You are right, Marcelo.”
The more, the better.
The more trustworthy comrades there are, the better.
Just look at the present.
If not for Marcelo,
I would have spent ages and ages raising my mana, trying to manifest a portal to the Arcana Continent. I would have struggled to shoulder that absurd burden alone once again.
My gratitude lasted only a moment before I swallowed dryly. ‘So what is needed?’ The message gave the answer to that. ─Progress Toward the Strange (In Progress) ●Identify the source of the Magic Tower. (In Progress)
The source of the Magic Tower, huh.
As I just said, the Magic Tower was special. Back when I was ignorant of 『magic』……. ‘I simply thought it was possible because it was the Magic Tower.’ But now that I possessed the true qualifications of the chief, not merely a parachute appointee,
there were more than one or two questions about the Magic Tower.
Shall I kindly give an example?
First, it started with the exterior of the Magic Tower itself.
Seen from the outside, the Magic Tower was absolutely not gigantic.
It rose high, yes, but it was lower than the buildings in Seoul.
But what about its interior?
The stairs of the Magic Tower that manifested in midair stretched so far that the end could not be seen.
The interior space was the same. Like an inventory that could endlessly contain all kinds of items. The Magic Tower, too, held vast halls and countless places.
It meant this was absolutely not a place built with 『magic』 alone.
In fact, even the basement of the Magic Tower, Mugan (無間),
was a place more mysterious and impossible to grasp than anything I had seen so far. Neither [Rifts] nor [Hidden Pieces], not even the field transformed by the Seven Deadly Sin Envy, could compare to Mugan.
“May I excuse myself for a moment, sir?”
Nod.
When I gestured with my chin, Marcelo approached the bookshelf.
Marcelo’s bony fingers skimmed over the books.
“Unless one looks deeply into it, it is difficult to feel any doubt. However, as you have likely surmised, sir, what composes the Magic Tower is not magic. For there is no such thing in this world as mana that never runs dry.”
Rumble.
At that same moment, the structure of the bookshelf changed.
Naturally, I was not surprised. ‘I’m the chief, too, you know.’ A posture that neglects nothing.
Even though I had sat in the chief’s seat as a parachute appointee, I had carefully read the manual from cover to cover. No mana was required. With will alone, the structure of the office could be changed as desired.
“Pardon me, sir.”
Rumble.
Marcelo restored the office structure to its original state.
Then he continued speaking.
“We must add an interference process to such a Magic Tower portal. According to the theory, exploring the Magic Tower itself must come first. Once again, I have no choice but to ask for your help, sir.”
Marcelo’s eyes held no worry at all.
It is nice that he trusts me……
but this makes me uneasy in its own way. ‘The source of the Magic Tower, huh.’ Where should I even begin figuring that out?
As I pondered,
Marcelo, who had made the request, let out a sigh for once.
Then he startled and continued speaking.
“Oh. I apologize, sir. I have no face, sighing when I cannot even be of help. I trust your ability, sir, but……. No matter how I think about it, I wonder if I have made an unreasonable request…….”
Marcelo’s gaze swept over the office.
No, over the Magic Tower more fundamentally than that.
The founder of theoretical magic. Considering Marcelo’s personality, being forced to dig into the Magic Tower, which could not be explained by theory, made it understandable that he would reveal emotions he rarely showed.
But who am I, Chief Mage Marcelo?
Clack—listening ended.
The teacup containing a green tea bag that I lifted and drank from.
After swallowing the green tea, which remained warm thanks to the delicate warming magic cast upon it,
I opened my mouth shamelessly as usual.
“There is nothing to worry about, Marcelo.”
“……Could it be that you have grasped something?”
“Of course.”
I continued in a particularly plausible manner.
“The Strange always knows the answer.”
“……!”
Seeing Marcelo’s widened pupils pricked my conscience.
It had to.
The Strange I was referring to here was nothing special. ‘If I’m curious about the Magic Tower, I can just shake down its designer.’ That was right.
Another hat, following the Magic Tower’s chief.
The general manager of the AAU Yusra Branch. ‘The database should contain the Magic Tower’s settings. For now, let’s look for it.’ That was me, Lee Hoyeol. * The Five Stars of the Unification Under Heaven.
The five players were brimming with pride.
Their lord was watching them. ‘He believed in me.’ ‘I am the true Five Star.’ ‘To think he would bestow such an opportunity upon us……!’ The Five Stars and five access devices.
At this moment,
the Five Stars of the Unification Under Heaven would enter the Arcana Continent through the access devices.
How much hardship had their lord gone through to obtain the access devices?
The self-proclaimed Five Stars glared at one another.
“Be careful not to betray his expectations.”
“Hmph, look who’s talking.”
“Even if our lord forgives you, I will not.”
For this day,
the Five Stars had cut off all interaction with the world and prepared to enter.
Under the enormous support of the Unification Under Heaven,
they had also just been equipped with new gear.
A man’s resolute voice rang out.
“I trust you have not forgotten our objective, either. We must accurately report to our lord what is happening on the Arcana Continent.”
There was already Lee Hoyeol, the pioneer who had illuminated the Arcana Continent, but
how could they possibly believe his words?
A small war of nerves was passing between them.
Beep—on the dot.
Along with the shrill notification sound,
the Five Stars laid their bodies in the access devices.
A solemn voice flowed out from inside the access device.
“All is for my lord, Liuo Junchun.” ...
Before long, the Five Stars opened their eyes on the Arcana Continent.
“……!!!”
And then they regretted it.
A completely different world.
Because of that, with voices that could never reach him, they cried out to their lord, Liuo Junchun.
“Uaaaaaah!!” [You have entered the Arcana Continent, which is heading toward destruction.]
This was not the Arcana Continent full of dreams and hope, my lord!!
Corpses and maggots swarmed in every direction.
Messages glittered before their eyes from beginning to end. [The Evil Eye watches you with curiosity.] [Your mental strength is too low.] [Abnormal status, ‘Fear,’ has occurred.]
Even the enormous demon’s eye that embroidered the sky.
Even as they trembled in terror, the Five Stars gnashed their teeth.
As expected, Lee Hoyeol was a man who could not be trusted……!
“You entered a place like this multiple times and were fine……?”
That is impossible……!
The Five Stars, trembling in fear, hurriedly opened their inventories. As stated, they had made full preparations. With the items they had brought, they would be able to recover from the abnormal status and obtain the information their lord needed.
“……?”
Above the heads of those who were thinking that, suddenly,
Thudududu—somehow, a familiar sound could be heard.
“Wh-what is that?!”
It was
a giant airship flying through the sky
as though a helicopter were spinning its propeller.
Color returned to the Five Stars’ faces.
“……That’s right! There’s no way the Arcana Continent simply fell to ruin. Lee Hoyeol, that guy must have received help from a newly risen force like that.”
“And then he acted so high and mighty?”
“There’s no need to feel wronged. Now that we have obtained this information, whoever is on that airship will soon swear loyalty to our lord.”
To do that, they would have to send a signal to the airship. [Skills]
and [items].
Each of them signaled the airship to make their presence known.
Thudududu—Perhaps their desperation reached it.
The gears of the airship came to a stop.
“I-it saw us!!” ...
The airship, the Iron Castle.
Chainwalker, the leader of the dwarves, furrowed his brow.
Then he asked politely,
“……Are those not adventurers?”
The one listening to that question was none other than Hiel.
Hiel’s gaze turned toward the five men and women clinging to the ground.
More precisely, toward the red insignia embroidered on their shoulders. ‘A red insignia…….’ Were they not the ones who had tried to slander my lord,
the endless, deep darkness,
the Black Dark Dragon?
“At last.”
Hiel’s loyalty toward her true lord, Hoyeol, surged.