◈ Episode 327. Even Beasts Know Their Master (3)
Granfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo.
That name—
he had heard it countless times from his grandfather,
and from his father.
—“Granfell. He is the one who bears the blood of Claudi in its deepest shade. To the point that he may as well be considered Claudi itself... You must never become entangled with him. If, one day, you should ever happen to face him, never raise your head before him.”
Ignite had scoffed every time.
—“The old men have gone thoroughly senile.”
The greatest talent in the history of House Claudi.
A laugh slipped out of him.
Just what was House Claudi supposed to be in the first place?
—“There’s a limit to being frightened in advance by ghosts of the past.”
Thanks to his cold, rational mind, Ignite had been able to view House Maxima’s position on the Arcana Continent objectively. That was why the warnings of his predecessors had never sounded like warnings to him.
—“If Claudi truly possessed such ability, they would not have chosen to remain behind the scenes from the very beginning. A mere single family could grasp the Arcana Continent and shake it as they pleased? The old men’s delusions are beyond excessive.”
And as if that weren’t enough, even the rumors that reached his ears.
—“Claudi?”
The Shadow Mercenary Corps.
The stray dogs of the underworld had bitten into a request related to Claudi, and in the process, rumors had reached him that Claudi had been exterminated. Even then, Ignite had let out a sneer.
—“To think the noble name of Claudi would be passed around on the floor of the underworld! True or not, the very fact that such talk can be heard speaks volumes about the family’s reputation. Are you watching, Father? You were wrong. Far more wrong than you could ever know.”
And now.
“Ah...”
Ignite stared emptily at the helmet he held up in both hands. The heirloom that should have adorned its very center, the 『Jewel of Midas』, had vanished without leaving even a trace behind.
The soldiers who had hurriedly dismounted were searching the surroundings, but...
“Open your eyes and search properly!”
In truth, everyone knew.
The Jewel of Midas was neither a shard nor powder, but had become particles finer than that, scattered on the wind and evaporated without leaving the faintest trace.
Ignite’s massive frame trembled violently.
“M-my... Maxima’s symbol...”
From the time he had been the next head of House Maxima.
Ignite had heard about the Jewel of Midas until his ears had grown calluses.
All of Maxima’s wealth originated from the Jewel of Midas.
Whenever he heard that story, Ignite had wondered.
How had Maxima come to possess such a precious heirloom?
However, each time he asked, his father had said,
—“Do not try to know, my son.”
Only now.
Ignite felt as though he finally understood why his father had so desperately avoided answering.
Because the reason was written on the parchment.──────As of this hour, all status and blessings of House Maxima shall be stripped away.──────Family Head, Granfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo.──────The Jewel of Midas was none other than the blessing said to have been bestowed by Claudi.
Losing such an heirloom was a painful loss.
However, Ignite pulled himself together.‘We have enough without it.’The treasures accumulated in Maxima’s vault alone were beyond measure, and at his side, did he not already have loyal soldiers known as the Golden Legion? Furthermore.
“I do not believe it.”
Clank—Ignite put the helmet back on properly.
Before he knew it, his eyes were blazing.
That was because his confidence had grounds.
“Did we not confirm it? That resurrection does not exist in this world.”
The adventurers who had once shaken the Arcana Continent. There were more than one or two people on the continent who had actually witnessed their resurrection. Even among the Golden soldiers, there were those who had seen a resurrected adventurer.
However, just moments ago.
Swipe.
Ignite’s finger brushed over the bloodstain that had splattered across his cheek.
“I confirmed that with my own skin as well. Therefore.”
Ignite reached his conclusion.
Granfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo.
I will not believe in your resurrection.
“Not until you show that vaunted face of yours before me.”
Ignite shouted to the soldiers.
“We have no time to waste over a mere heirloom! Advance!”*
Retel Akamond.
The head of Akamond carefully folded the parchment.
Then, hiding her expression behind her beauty,
she spoke to the adventurer who had come to her.
“A Blockader of Erichton. Indeed, you are no ordinary talent.”
Blockaders.
Beings who tempered themselves through repeated training and ascetic hardship.
Retel had not forgotten the maxim passed down from the previous generation.
She silently chewed over those words.
—Under the name of Akamond, all humans are no different from tools.
Retel looked at the man, Yong Seongrak.
If he had been a mere Blockader, she would have accepted him at once. If he was an adventurer who had survived until now on the devastated Arcana Continent, then his skill had already been proven.
However.‘Because he is an adventurer, he is unpredictable.’Retel did not know much about adventurers. The Akamond family was located in the far east of the Arcana Continent. Because of its geographical characteristics, they were more knowledgeable about news drifting in from beyond the sea than news from Arcana itself.‘As expected, would poking this only cause trouble?’Moreover, Retel was not sincere about this imperial expedition.
She believed there was no hope left for the Arcana Continent, which had been ravaged by demons. Rather than rebuild the Empire, it was more realistic to pioneer the route that had opened across the sea due to tectonic shifts.‘I merely participated moderately because we were grouped as one of the four families.’Retel chewed over the words on the parchment.‘But they would strip away Akamond’s name and blessing?’Akamond’s blessing was not something that manifested outwardly like Maxima’s jewel.
Should she call that a silver lining amid misfortune?
Thanks to that, Retel was able to view the situation relatively rationally.
She asked Yong Seongrak,
“Adventurer, do you know of Claudi?”
“If by Claudi, you mean...”
Yong Seongrak rummaged through memories blurred by Ryu O Junchun’s brainwashing.
He had a vague memory of coming across it.
He could not have heard of it in his homeland, where news had been blocked,
but in the Zero Mountains, certainly...
—“What? Lee Hoyeol was Claudi? The one the demons were crying out about?”
Yong Seongrak answered,
“I know of it. Claudi. It was certainly the alias of an adventurer.”
At that reply, Retel, who had been calm, flinched.
“What did you say? Claudi is an adventurer’s alias...?”
“Yes. Lee Hoyeol. Another name of his was Claudi. Such rumors have spread widely in my homeland, a world completely different from the Arcana Continent.”
“I see.”
Retel continued to think while still concealing her expression.‘There is a contradiction in his words.’Unique on the Arcana Continent.
Claudi, called the great family. And yet someone claiming that Claudi was his own alias was alive, and even an adventurer at that. Was that not an utterly absurd tale?
Retel came to a conclusion.‘A pathetic scheme. A fake Claudi.’She could not know how an adventurer, a mere outsider, had learned of the relationship between Claudi and the four families.
But the purpose of that fake was plain to see.
Retel murmured lowly,
“It seems they wish to protect the Empire, even if they must resort to absurdities.”
Claudi of all people.
Even if only to see the face of the one who dared impersonate Granfell among them,
she would have to head to the imperial capital, Antonium.‘However, before that.’Retel spoke generously to Yong Seongrak.
“Very well. I shall bestow upon you the right to serve Akamond.”
“Thank you, Lady Retel Akamond.”
“May Akamond’s accomplishment be with you.”
“It is an honor.”
Softly.
Retel held out the back of her hand.
Yong Seongrak knelt and kissed the back of Retel’s hand, swearing loyalty. That was the end of it. Neither Retel nor Yong Seongrak knew enough about one another to notice the change, but—
just like the Jewel of Midas,
Akamond’s influence had disappeared without a trace.
Of course, by the time they realized that fact, it was too late for regret.
“Indeed, you are as insignificant as the rumors say.”
With Akamond of Tremor being the last,
the four families had completely surrounded
the imperial capital, Antonium.*
[Quest: Empire vs. Maxima, Yugrik, Cansel, Akamond]
The imperial capital, Antonium.
The war to determine the true master of the throne is imminent.
What is the hidden truth concealed behind this war?
Everything depends on your judgment.
You shall obtain the rewards of victory according to your contributions.─Choose a faction. (Select)●Swear loyalty to Maxima. (Failed)●Swear loyalty to Yugrik. (Failed)●Swear loyalty to Cansel. (Failed)●Swear loyalty to Akamond. (Success)─Capture Antonium. (In Progress)●Current Contribution: 0pYong Seongrak gripped the reins tightly.‘For now, I’ve gotten past one hurdle.’The quest objective had newly updated after his success.
As expected, choosing Akamond had not been wrong.
For a moment, Jang Anrim came to mind, but Yong Seongrak paid it no heed.‘Our ties ended long ago.’The one Yong Seongrak had to be most wary of was none other than another player.
Especially those belonging to Cheonhatongil.
Just as he had trampled over other guild members and stood out in Cheonhatongil,
they, Jang Anrim included, were certain to be that kind of person as well.‘I don’t entrust my back to a bastard like me.’Yong Seongrak felt far lighter at heart.
Now, as long as the imperial capital, Antonium, fell,
the quest would end successfully.
A laugh escaped him on its own.‘There’s no way we can lose.’Akamond’s military strength was truly astonishing.
To put it in Arcana terms, the ratio of dealers, healers, and tanks was fantastically ideal. Not only their numbers, but the level of each individual was remarkable as well. Because Yong Seongrak had belonged to the super-large guild Cheonhatongil, he was even more astonished.
The larger a force became, the more inevitable it was for all kinds of riffraff to gather.‘Where did they gather troops like this?’Akamond’s influence transformed inexperienced apprentice knights into seasoned knights, and apprentice mages into seasoned mages. But Yong Seongrak knew nothing of that, so all he could do was marvel.
Soon, Yong Seongrak shook his head.‘I need to get a grip too.’He did not know the strength of the other three families, but as long as they did not hold Akamond back, the fall of Antonium was practically guaranteed.‘Objectively speaking, the Empire won’t last even a day.’Because the prospects were so bright, he felt greedy for contribution points, but he knew that one could not become full from the first spoonful. Yong Seongrak forced himself to suppress his ambition.‘Besides, there’s still nothing I know.’He did not know how Akamond had built such a force, nor did he know what would happen among the four families after Antonium’s gates opened and the emperor’s head fell.‘I have to keep my distance and watch.’Yong Seongrak had resolved not to stand out.
And yet, there was one thing that bothered him no matter how much he tried to ignore it.
It was none other than Retel’s reaction toward Claudi, toward Lee Hoyeol.
Yong Seongrak subtly shifted his gaze and glanced at Retel.‘She didn’t show it, but she was definitely surprised.’Claudi...
He had thought it was merely one of Lee Hoyeol’s many aliases, like Infinite Deep Darkness, A Ray of Light, or Black Dark Dragon. Judging by her reaction, however, it seemed that something more complicated was tangled up in it.
But that, too, did not matter.‘Even so, the fact that they’re advancing means this side must have confidence as well.’The emperor’s right arm, the Lionheart Knights.
Lee Hoyeol had a close relationship with the Lionheart Knights. Naturally, Lee Hoyeol would have no choice but to side with the Empire. However, even Lee Hoyeol of all people would not be able to withstand the combined strength of the four families.‘And shouldn’t I get used to this too?’He could not return to reality by his own power. That meant he might end up clashing with Lee Hoyeol on the Arcana Continent any number of times in the future.
Yong Seongrak felt an appropriate sense of tension.‘This is the perfect opportunity to grasp his level.’Lee Hoyeol.
There had been practically no instances of him fighting a player.
He had once defeated the Sword Saint, Shegwin, in a duel, but Shegwin was not a player. That meant he himself might be the first player to face Lee Hoyeol as an enemy.‘I can catch up to you.’Even if it was impossible in reality.
If it was here.
If it was on the Arcana Continent, where buffs like this existed, he could do it.
The moment Yong Seongrak made up his mind, Antonium appeared in the distance.
He saw the remaining three families, possessing forces no less impressive than Akamond’s.
And.
“...?”At the very center of the plains of Antonium, surrounded by the four families.
At the heart of the battlefield, and at the eye of the storm.
He saw a man standing alone upon the earth.
A jacket over his shoulders fluttering in the bleak wind.
Silver hair shining brilliantly in the sunlight.
A posture upright, almost like a straight line.
There was no doubt.
It was Lee Hoyeol.
In that instant.
As if to prove that fact,
a message appeared before Yong Seongrak,
the only player on the battlefield besides Lee Hoyeol.
“?!”Only then did Yong Seongrak realize.
The reason Cheonhatongil had been able to expand its power so smoothly until now.
Because that bastard Ryu O Junchun was ruthless?
Because despite being ruthless, his guild management ability was outstanding?
No, all of it was wrong.‘H-how?’Everything had been purely thanks to the mercy Lee Hoyeol had shown them.
Yong Seongrak felt the weight of facing Lee Hoyeol as an “enemy” settle upon him.‘I have the four families at my back. How can he do this to me, to someone like me...!!’[Granfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo appears.]
It had become an appearance message heralding the final act.