◈ Episode 34. The True Natural Enemy (2)
The reason my body, which had been listless from mana exhaustion, had returned to normal. ‘It’s probably because of a synergistic effect.’ If the natural-enemy relationship between demon hunter and demon simply enhanced combat power,
then the relationship between Granfell and demons must have raised additional stats, including mana regeneration. ‘Unbending pride.’ So that I could remain upright, as always.
I ought to be happy, but I couldn’t simply rejoice.
Because I knew from experience.
Granfell’s settings were by no means omnipotent. ‘……
I’m already scared.’ Because effort accompanied the realization of those settings.
As if the physical training from the repeat quests hadn’t been enough, there were also the A4 pages I’d had to fill to the brim.
How many nights had I completely lost because of the setting that I was an unparalleled genius?
But right now, even that hardship was worth enduring. ‘This isn’t just any demon. It’s a great evil.’ To be precise, it was the incarnation of a great evil, but still.
It was an enemy that could make even the mighty Harkon tense.
Facing such a thing while suffering from mana exhaustion would be absurd.
For now, let’s be grateful.
As I was thinking that, Harkon approached.
“Sir Hoyeol, could the reason you came to the Yusra Archipelago be……?”
It was because of the updated quest.
To put it plainly, it was indeed because of the great evil.
I answered as if it were obvious.
“That is right, Sir Harkon.”
“……!”
His pupils widened for only a moment.
Harkon muttered to himself.
“……
This is my negligence, Your Majesty. If only I had realized a little sooner.”
By “Your Majesty,” Harkon must mean the emperor.
There was no reason to respond to a soliloquy.
Of course, I did wonder what he meant by negligence.
But this wasn’t a situation where I could sit and think it through.
“……
Everyone, prepare for battle! They’re coming!!”
A dazzling palace, as though greed itself had taken form.
Around it, soldiers began to rise.
They weren’t summoned; rising really was the right word.
Rustle, rustle—!
Because they were truly crawling up from underground.
Someone shouted.
“They’re undead!”
Indeed, that was exactly right.
What emerged after digging through the soil were skeletons. ‘Undead aren’t demons, but……’ I checked my skill window. ─────── Natural Enemy Relationship: Combat power rises dramatically when fighting demons. ─────── The natural enemy relationship was still active, as expected.
It had been active even when the great evil was still crouching low.
Now that it had fully revealed itself, there was no real need to check.
But I had to judge the situation coolly.
I looked over the battlefield.
I saw the players in a hurry.
“If we want to enter, we’ll have to take them down first, right?”
“We need to fight in a way that minimizes damage as much as possible!”
“That’d be best. The competition will get even fiercer inside!”
Unlike me, a demon hunter,
the players did not understand the gravity of the situation.
They seemed excited, their hearts fluttering at the thought of attacking the Golden Palace and the great evil.
That was understandable.
The Golden Palace.
From its very exterior, it looked like it would pour out tremendous spoils.
Greed itself.
The Golden Palace, by its very existence alone,
was clouding the players’ judgment.
Of course, the symbol of incorruptible integrity.
To Granfell, greed was an emotion that did not exist.
Which meant my judgment remained intact as well.
Thanks to that, I was able to make a rational decision. ‘I have to conserve my mana.’ The incarnation of a great evil.
Its strength couldn’t possibly compare to Count Askyura’s.
I had no mana to waste on mere skeletons.
In that sense, it was fortunate.
Because I had allies more reliable than anyone else.
Even if that only applied within the Yusra Archipelago.
“Sir Harkon. Does your vow still stand?”
“Of course.”
Answering so, Harkon put on his helmet.
Clank— Then, together with the knights, he raised his sword and shield.
“I vowed to His Majesty that, at least in this place, I would become your sword and shield. Sir Hoyeol, you have the authority to command our Lion Heart Knights.”
He added one more sentence.
“Moreover, now that I know you came here to slay a demon, I, at the very least, will not retreat even a single step before the enemy.”
In perfect ranks and files,
the Lion Heart Knights lined up before me.
I did not feel as though I had become someone important.
Nor did I feel elated.
There was only me, taking even their loyalty for granted. ‘……
What an exhausting thought.’ But because I had something to bear,
responsibility naturally followed.
In a word, it was “noblesse oblige.”
Why did my past self have to go and attach even such an exhausting setting……! At least this much was certain. I’d just grabbed some words that looked cool and stuck them on.
Of course, regardless of that truth,
I opened my mouth with dignity.
I spoke toward the players.
“In order to face the undead, the Lion Heart Knights require blessings and protection. If you cooperate, I will be deeply grateful for that goodwill.” ……
Even asking a favor sounds shameless!
In short, I was saying we needed buffs.
Divine blessings and protection.
For undead like skeletons, there was no greater weakness than those.
Naturally, I had no such skills.
I thought, ‘An order would be one thing, but a request.’ I never thought I would say something like this.
Did I become more mature because I suddenly had something to take responsibility for, or what?
As if that weren’t enough, I was even saying I would be grateful for their goodwill.
Of course, to the players, it would probably still sound arrogant.
To say I’d repay them with nothing concrete, just gratitude.
And considering the unfriendly gazes that had been directed at me,
no one would respond—
“We’ll help…… you.”
“We’ll cooperate!”
……
or so I thought.
For some reason, two answers came at the same time.
I looked at the man and woman. ……
Wait, haven’t we met before?*In the end, the collapse progress had filled all the way to the top.
And at the same time, the Golden Palace revealed itself.
Nam Taemin muttered.
“It turned out just like you said, hyung.”
—Be careful, Taemin. It won’t be easy.
The Yusra Archipelago.
For a legendary treasure island, it was far too calm.
Of course, even if ten named monsters had been guarding the treasure,
the foreshadowing that had been thrown out since the days when Arcana was merely a game had been so enormous.
Nam Cheolmin continued.
—Don’t get greedy. Let’s take it slow.
Nam Taemin stared blankly at the Golden Palace. ……
Why am I staring at it so hard?
As he gazed at the Golden Palace, he felt as though he had been bewitched by something.
“Huh? Ah, yeah. Hyung. I need to get a grip.”
Nam Taemin quickly shook his head.
Then he spoke to Gaon’s guild members.
“The enemy is demonic. Mental strength enhancement items, buffs—prepare whatever you can in advance. We don’t know when the battle will start……. Well, I didn’t even need to say it.”
Skeletons were rising from the ground.
Demons, and now undead too?
“They’ve really gone and made a fucking mess of this.”
Just as Nam Taemin forced the corners of his mouth upward,
“If you cooperate, I will be deeply grateful for that goodwill.” ……
That voice?
It was Hoyeol’s voice.
Nam Taemin, of course,
and even Nam Cheolmin, who was listening through earphones.
—Taemin. This is our chance!
Goodwill from none other than Hoyeol.
Other players might not know, but the brothers did.
How many times had they witnessed Hoyeol’s abilities right before their eyes?
So they couldn’t let this chance slip by.
“We’ll cooperate!”
He answered reflexively.
And their eyes met.
“……
Fuck, what?”
With Leonie, who was looking up at him with an extremely displeased expression.
“We’ll help…… you.”
The reason Leonie had stepped forward, even forcing herself to use polite speech, was simple.
Those crazy girls had been poking her in the ribs.
Screech, screech.
They were even shrieking like crows.
“Unni, he said goodwill!”
“Hurry, hurry!”
“No, fuck.”
Of course, Leonie herself did have a bit of willingness too.
Just like the Nam brothers of Gaon. ‘That monster.’ Leonie was also one of the people who had witnessed Hoyeol’s abilities up close.
Had she only witnessed them?
Thanks to Hoyeol, the Berserker Guild had even become the main characters of the grand title of first clear of a new rift. ‘Well, I guess I’m repaying a favor.’ Favors had to be repaid when one could.
More than anything, Leonie knew very well.
—Unfortunately, there is no tea for me to offer you.
Just how petty Hoyeol was.
Leonie swallowed a snicker inwardly. ‘Still, he was the one who said first that he wouldn’t forget the goodwill.’ If this ended well, surely she could at least get a cup of tea out of him, right?
Just as she was smacking her lips at the thought……
an enormous uninvited guest called Gaon suddenly appeared.
Glare—
Gaon and Berserker.
Barbarian and berserker.
With Hoyeol between them,
tension flowed between the two.
However, the war of nerves that seemed unlikely to end easily
ended with just one sentence.
“I remember you.”
“……!!”
*The world is this warm.
Even if we had met before, we had never even had a proper conversation.
Yet they were willing to step forward so readily.
I felt that human kindness still lived in this world. ‘I regret it.’ Nam Taemin and Leonie.
I had connections to both of them from the Count Askyura rift.
Back then, to such kind people, I had said things like, ‘Your etiquette is lacking. There is no tea for me to offer you.’ ……
I really said everything I should and shouldn’t have.
Of course, to Granfell, regret was not a word that existed.
All I could do was speak calmly.
“I will not forget this goodwill.”
“Come on.”
At my words, Nam Taemin waved his hand dismissively.
Gaon, the greatest guild in South Korea.
And its guild master, Nam Taemin.
Even I, who had once had no interest in players, could not possibly be unaware of Nam Taemin.
Because in South Korea, Nam Taemin was a hero beyond the level of a player.
“To call this goodwill is too much. It’s nothing, Hoyeol-nim……. No, should I call you Hoyeol-ssi? Anyway, Hoyeol-ssi, we’ve received help from you before!”
By help, he must mean the battle in the plaza.
Should that really be called help? ‘It was just good luck.’ Back then, even when it came to magic, all I could do was put up walls.
I merely encountered cavalry, which I had the advantage against in terms of compatibility, and achieved a great victory.
But just like regret,
humility was also an emotion that Granfell did not possess.
“I see. Everything in this world has give and take.”
The Lion Heart Knights, and now even Gaon? ……
I don’t know anymore. Now even I am afraid of myself.
I looked at Leonie.
“I have been watching your deeds as well.”
The Berserker Guild.
Even if they weren’t on Gaon’s level, they were one of the top guilds.
I still remembered the sight of her swinging her twin swords.
Though I hadn’t been able to properly imitate it since I didn’t have any swords I could equip.
“Hiiik.”
But why was she so startled?
At my words, Leonie visibly flinched.
There was no way this blunt personality would let such a question pass.
“What is there to be so surprised about?”
“N-No. Surprised? What do you mean? I’m……
sir?!”
But Granfell was not such a narrow-minded noble that he would force someone to answer what they found difficult to say.
“Then that is fortunate.”
Besides, now was not the time to chat amicably.
All that remained was to charge into the Golden Palace.
Harkon spoke to the two of them.
“Thank you, adventurers. Your blessings will become a great strength in fighting against evil.”
The Lion Heart Knights armed themselves with buffs.
A player who looked like a healer approached me as well and asked,
“Are there any buffs you need? The Goddess’s Prayer, or Blessing, perhaps. My skill proficiency is the highest in the Gaon Guild!”
I answered indifferently.
“I do not believe in gods.” ……
I’m seriously going insane. I really am!
A cringeworthy line.
A face that showed not the slightest change even after spouting such a line.
I’ll be honest.
Opening my mouth scares me more than the great evil in front of me……! ‘Prayer raises mental strength, and Blessing raises physical ability.’ Both were buffs that would make no difference to me.
So all I meant was that I didn’t need buffs.
Damn it.
My inner shame was boiling over.
So I did not hesitate.
Toward the Palace of Greed,
I quickly moved my feet.
Click—
Before anyone could latch onto my words……!
*AAU Korea Branch.
Seong Hyeonjun accessed Arcana’s official website.
He checked the update details that had been added belatedly.
“……
I knew this would happen!”
“What is it? Did an additional patch drop?”
“Yes, sunbae. I’m certain. This is something even Raymon didn’t predict!”
The Yusra Archipelago.
No, to be precise, the Yusra Kingdom.
It was large-scale content that Seong Hyeonjun had been preparing since his days working as a developer for Arcana.
Not only Seong Hyeonjun, but no one on the Arcana development team could have been unaware of the Yusra Kingdom.
“No, if you were going to do it alone, you should’ve at least discharged!”
The target of that resentment was Raymon Sean.
Just what the hell had he messed with?
“…
Hyeonjun. I’m not the only one imagining things, am I?”
“There’s no way you are. The Yusra Kingdom was set to have been destroyed. Even until that bastard Raymon Sean went missing and Cosmo went under!”
“Then why is that showing up now…?”
Why had the Golden Palace, which did not exist at the present point in time, reappeared? Along with some monster called a great evil, something they had never heard of before.
“And what the hell is Seven Deadly Sins, Greed? Adding stuff only he knows about.”
Still, the fortunate thing was—
the additional update notes had been posted, even if belatedly.
They had to sift through those notes and extract any information that might help the players, no matter how little.
Because that was the AAU’s role.
However.
“…
Se-Senior?”
Seong Hyeonjun couldn’t say a word.
“This is insane.”
It was no different for his senior, Yun Sugyeom.
Their minds went blank.
Seong Hyeonjun forced his mouth open.
“St-still, we have the Lionheart Knights! And Lee Hoyeol is there, too. The large guilds are still intact as well…”
“The Lionheart Knights? You think those guys will stake their lives on this? Up until now, they may have been traveling together through sheer luck, but it’s hard to expect any more help from them.”
“…
You’re right, but…”
But his words trailed off almost immediately.
Yun Sugyeom urgently made a phone call.
“It’s impossible! No one, absolutely no one, must enter!”
What had appeared on the monitor was—
despairing update notes.『A new Collapse Rift, “Golden Palace,” has been added.
Recommended Level: Lv.600~650A new boss monster, “Seven Deadly Sins, Incarnation of Greed”: Lv.650A new monster has been added.“Sleepless Soldier”: Lv.500』Yun Sugyeom shouted.
“At this rate, everyone really will die!!”...
But that prediction was wrong.
Because no one died.
It was like a streak of light.
That streak of light crossed the Collapse Rift, Golden Palace—
recommended level 600 to 650.
The prediction was wrong once again.
Because at the very front stood the Lionheart Knights.
“Knights of the Lionheart.”
Harkon’s sword was dyed with sword aura.
The light in his eyes, too, shone with resolve no less intense than that sword aura.
So every prediction had been wrong.
“Offer up your hearts. So that Sir Hoyeol may reach the great evil!”
Because they really had staked their lives.
“I found it.”
In the distance, the throne could be seen—the Seven Deadly Sins, Incarnation of Greed.