◈ Episode 314. What If He, Too, Is Me? (1)
Silence flowed through the office.
Unlike usual, there were two more people present. And yet, including myself, no one opened their mouth. To an onlooker, it might have seemed as though some strange battle of nerves was taking place.
I’d rather it really were that……
Clack—I took out the teacups for guests, looked at the mana stove heating the water, and swallowed a sigh. Damn it, I knew a day like this would come someday. I tried hard to steady myself.
From the moment I became able to travel back and forth between reality and the Arcana Continent. And from the moment I resolved to fully acknowledge Claudi, my dark history. I had kept in mind that there was no such thing as an eternal secret in this world.
But even so, this is way too sudden!
I was grateful for this body that moved calmly even in a situation like this.
Of course, proudly serving green tea from teabags was a little much……
But now wasn’t the time to care about green tea.
Jesse and Mary.
Were they trying to maintain decorum to the end? They said nothing. However, both their faces seemed full of questions. In the end, they were likely waiting for my explanation—if it could be called one.
‘If I’m being honest…….’
I wanted to grow one step more shameless, pretend I knew nothing, and let it pass. However, Granfell’s lofty pride and arrogance differed by no more than a sheet of paper.
And so, setting down the teacup, I broke the silence.
“I shall hear your business.”
In truth, even here, it wasn’t too late to play dumb.
At any rate, there must have been a reason the two of them had waited for me.
I could simply answer their business and be done with it, couldn’t I?
But, as I said.
Glossing over things vaguely was an act my esteemed pride would never permit.
Thanks to that, I ended up adding more.
“However, resolving your doubts should come first.”
“……!”
The eyes of the two, who had been silent, turned toward me.
“Lee Hoyeol and Granfell.”
Wasn’t this the first time I had ever spoken those two names with my own mouth in reality……? An indescribably complicated feeling swept over me, but I did not show it and finished speaking.
“He, too, is me.”
An explanation that could not have been more concise.
For now, Mary nodded.
In truth, Mary wouldn’t have much reason to be shocked. Lee Hoyeol—my name, while not common, wasn’t strange enough to make someone recoil, was it? It was a name my grandfather had given me in great delight.
Besides.
‘Even if it is a little strange, she’ll probably just accept it and move on.’
Considering the relationship between Mary and Claudi, that was only natural. In fact, even without the halo effect, I had ended up becoming something like Mary’s benefactor by restoring the Twilight’s Descendant.
The problem was Jesse.
I knew Jesse’s personality well, too. She was the type to tenaciously dig into anything she did not know, including magic. Thanks to that, I had suffered quite a bit.
As expected, questions poured out.
“By any chance, is Granfell your name on the Arcana Continent?”
It was my ID from the days of the Arcana Continent Chronicle.
When you thought about it, it was a sharp question. Of course, since she had not asked for my full name, I absolutely would not say it first either. Worried that my mouth might run ahead of me, I quickly answered.
“That is so.”
Jesse continued asking.
“Then is the name Granfell known to everyone on the Arcana Continent? Or else…… is it a name known only to a few people?”
What is the intent behind that question?
‘Is she saying it’s a name too embarrassing to be widely known?’
I wanted to read Jesse’s expression and guess what she was thinking.
But it was hidden by her cone hat and hard to see.
So I had no choice but to answer plainly.
“Now, everyone has come to know it.”
In truth, I had tried to hide it for as long as I could……
But circumstances had sent that plan across the water.
After all, the legend of Lee Hoyeol, the Dark Flame Dragon, was spreading across the Arcana Continent. Not only that, the loud-voiced dragons must have shouted it everywhere. Even if they did not know the full name, I suppose everyone would know up to Granfell.
I wondered if that had even counted as an answer.
But it seemed to be enough for Jesse.
Only then did I sense the familiar exclamation mark in her tone.
“I see!”
Beneath the cone hat.
Her pupils, which made fatigue wash over me just by looking at them, were revealed.
Jesse continued.
“It’s similar to endlessly deep darkness or Dark Flame Dragon!”
Clatter—……
Without realizing it, I made the teacup tremble faintly.
As expected of humanity’s special asset.
The Great Mage, Jesse Hainess.
She had pierced straight to the heart of it.
Yes, they weren’t very different.
In truth, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to consider them synonyms.
However, my shock did not end there.
“The name Granfell suits you very well, too!”
……
Suits me?
What does that mean?
Maybe because I had so much to hide, I kept growing paranoid.
‘Has this been settled for now?’
Still, you endured well, Hoyeol.
‘Let’s see.’
Since I had explained with lofty pride, now it was my turn to listen. I, Lee Hoyeol. Though my sense of shame had caused an undeserved resentment toward the two of them, I could not be petty.
Leaving aside the fact that pride would not permit it.
‘Certainly.’
It seemed like a situation where the two of them had reason to request a meeting.
The Twilight’s Descendant and the Great Mage.
AAU’s report was correct. It seemed a new class quest had formed a connection between the two. Mary honestly disclosed everything.
“With my insight that has lost its light, I could not accurately grasp what a class quest means…… However, I thought I might be able to provide this young lady with help.”
It was not a matter of intelligence.
I knew well, from watching players and Arcanans, just how difficult it was to acquire knowledge from a completely different world. So the part that made me flinch was the term young lady.
“I am not a young lady, though?”
Jesse looked at Mary as well.
“Oh my, was I rude? I had not heard your name.”
“Ah.”
Had they been standing side by side without even introducing themselves? As if Mary’s words had been true, Jesse only then bowed her head deeply and introduced herself to Mary.
“I’m Jesse Hainess. My class is Great Mage.”
“Great Mage……”
The way Mary repeated it meaningfully suggested there was a reason for her confidence.
Since there had been progress in the class quest, Jesse did not seem inclined to refuse either.
But this damned meddlesome nature of mine would not let it pass.
“Are you truly certain, Mary?”
Mary answered without backing down.
“I am certain. However, if there is something you are concerned about, I shall take it to heart.”
It was not some grand worry.
As I had just said, understanding something from a completely different world was not easy. Lee Hoyeol of reality, tormented by Granfell of the Arcana Continent—thanks to that, I was an exceptional case who was coasting along.
“Ability is not the issue. It is simply that, because the very foundations you have built are different, you cannot understand one another. Do you believe you can truly give and receive teachings with such a counterpart?”
The same applied to Jesse.
‘She must have witnessed it purely thanks to the Great Mage class.’
Work that was not omitted even in front of guests.
As soon as I entered the office, I examined the parchment placed on the desk. Written there were the seniors’ and Marcelo’s evaluations regarding Mary’s demonstration.
──────Regrettably, the seniors, myself included, witnessed nothing.──────
Unable to evaluate due to insufficient capability.
Even Marcelo, of all people, had been unable to witness the magic and mana of twilight. Expecting Jesse, who had only just barely taken her first step into 『Magic』, to understand twilight was an absurd hope.
Mary answered.
“Considering Miss Jesse Hainess’s manifestation ability, Lord Granfell’s words are correct. Also, if an element unknown to me, such as the class quest, stands between Miss Jesse Hainess and me……”
Mary trailed off, and Jesse, perhaps having nothing to say, remained silent as well. Needless to say, I had not brought this up to discourage them.
“In that case, there is only one method.”
Who am I—who is Granfell?
Even if I must struggle desperately.
I am someone who, once a problem arises, sees it through to the end no matter what.
I went straight to the point.
“I shall join you in that training.”
I will say this in advance.
Strictly speaking, this was also meddling, but it was meddling with a clear reason. From the perspective of the commander-in-chief of the Holy War Alliance, nurturing Jesse, a special asset, was an extremely natural matter.
And.
‘To be honest, I’m interested too.’
Twilight mana and magic.
I had experienced their effects myself. That said, I did not know whether I, who was neither the Twilight’s Descendant nor the Great Mage connected to the Twilight’s Descendant, would be able to handle twilight.
‘There’s no harm in trying while I’m at it, is there?’
Since I had declared I would join them.
Even if they refused, I would have pushed my way in somehow.
Fortunately, the two did not seem reluctant.
“I hope I am not causing you unnecessary trouble……”
“I feel sorry, but reassured too, Chief Lee Hoyeol!”
Then that settled it.
Soon, I shifted my gaze from them to the teacup.
Though it did not show on my face because I could not reveal it……
‘They would never imagine I intend to steal a lesson by watching over their shoulders.’
Was this truly an action full of pride……?
The question occurred to me.
But in the end, it was no different from spitting in my own face.
“Then, drink.”
At times like this, the best course was simply to gulp down green tea……
*
Thursday arrived.
The world was wrapped in a strange tension.
Today was the day.
The day the victor between Raymon Sean and Hoyeol would be decided.
On that thin ice, Hoyeol was no different from usual.
He carried out his role as Chief of the Magic Tower.
He did not forget his duties as the general manager of the Yusra Branch either.
“……
How can he be like that?”
“I knew he didn’t get nervous, but……”
“If it were me, I seriously would’ve taken a day off today.”
Even as the world whispered about Hoyeol’s movements.
Time flowed on, and the hour of the regular update drew near.
And then.
“……
Huh?”
Nothing happened.
Seoul Station.
The players began making a ruckus.
“I told you! Raymon Sean, that guy’s nothing but a blowhard!”
“What are you talking about? Who was the one chain-smoking until just now?”
“That was…… Right! Because of withdrawal from not entering rifts!”
There will be no more balance patches.
I will prove it.
Just as he had declared, Hoyeol had proven it.
“Then, since we’re on the topic, how about we run a rift?”
“Call! Fine by me!”
“How about we make it a winner-takes-all bet for the loot?”
“Call on that too!”
The pent-up knots of the past week were released.
That was not a metaphor. It truly happened.
The rift status updated in real time at AAU.
Those recording it let out hollow laughs.
“It really looks like everyone was waiting for this exact moment. Excluding a few of the currently confirmed rifts…… players have entered all of them. In terms of percentage, it’s closing in on a staggering 95 percent, Branch Manager!”
Only one week.
“Hoho.”
Could the hearts of players, who were beyond fickle and even eccentric, be turned around this dramatically? Once again, one could only marvel at the abilities of Yusra’s general manager.
Baker, the London Branch Manager, smiled.
“He has written a miracle of the new era, surpassing even the miracle of London.”
The new era after the Cataclysm.
In a reality where lives depended on rifts, Arcana, players, and the public were closely connected. Thus, good news for the players was also good news for the world.
[No Regular Update……. Will It Become a New Driving Force?]
[Raymon Sean, the Fictional Being Proven as Such.]
[In-Depth Coverage: Lee Hoyeol Remained Unchanged Today as Well.]
However, there were those who could not enjoy the festive mood.
China.
Unification Under Heaven.
And Liuo Junchun.
“…….”
Liuo Junchun stared at the screen without a word. As of today, the number of access devices he had obtained was seven. Based on that, he had believed he had gained the propulsion to move decisively ahead.
And yet……
“Absurd.”
Lee Hoyeol played in different waters.
Liuo Junchun’s eyes turned toward the access devices.
In order to obtain those.
He had suffered considerable damage while dancing to Raymon Sean’s tune.
But what of Lee Hoyeol?
He had trampled Raymon Sean, who had toyed with him, as if to show the world.
Had they sensed Liuo Junchun’s foul mood?
Knock, knock—the door opened just in time.
“We succeeded, my lord!”
Liuo Junchun silently rose from his seat and moved.
“We greet our lord!!”
Where he headed, there were seven prototype access devices and an equal number of Unification Under Heaven guild members. One noteworthy point was that every one of them had one eye covered with an eyepatch.
Was it a marker so they could recognize one another on the Arcana Continent?
If so, why an eyepatch?
The question did not last long.
Slide—the overflowing holy grail was placed before Liuo Junchun.
Liuo Junchun looked at the holy grail.
To be precise, he looked at the surface of the liquid rippling within it.
[The effect of the ‘Grail of Harsh Contracts’ activates.]
[You share the contractors’ sight.]
[Current contractors: 7]
“……!”
Then seven subtly different fields of vision appeared on the surface.
Roll, roll—at that point, an ordinary person might have wondered what was rolling around inside the grail.
But Liuo Junchun was not ordinary.
“Consider it an honor to have become my eyes.”
“As you command!”
For in his mind, there was only the thought of gazing upon the Arcana Continent through the holy grail. He could not be satisfied with the experience gained on the Arcana Continent alone.
‘I will be able to see it.’
Liuo Junchun could declare with certainty.
The land suitable for a monarch like him to unfurl his will.
It was not this damned reality, but the Arcana Continent.
Those who lay down in the access devices at this moment were offerings meant to realize Liuo Junchun’s certainty. The humming access devices grew quiet, and one by one, fields of vision began to appear in Liuo Junchun’s grail.
Liuo Junchun clenched his fist.
‘I will not settle for reality, Lee Hoyeol.’
While you waste your time on the Magic Tower and the Kingdom of Yusra in reality.
On something as trivial as a holy war.
I shall witness new possibilities on the Arcana Continent.
‘I will not mind it, Lee Hoyeol.’
Even if you were the first to look into the Arcana Continent, I possess a sight you do not. The [Monarch’s Eye], which can grasp the currents on a continental scale.
At last, the seven fields of vision fully rose.
The corners of Liuo Junchun’s mouth slowly lifted.
As expected, that was it.
“Hahaha.”
The Warring States era.
The stage for a monarch.
No, for a tyrant, was right there.
“What about that continent is supposed to be barren?”
Liuo Junchun sneered.
“You deceived everyone, Lee Hoyeol.”
...
Liuo Junchun’s mistake was that he had overlooked something.
“……!”
Even if he could share their sight.
He could not peek at the messages displayed to the contractors.
Messages appeared before the Unification Under Heaven guild members.
“W-What is this?”
“No way……!!”
“Lee Hoyeol, Lee Hoyeol is dangerous. My lord……!!”
Countless messages that were impossible to believe.