◈ Episode 394. One Thing After Another—What Is This?
My ears itch ominously.
However, I did not let my posture waver in the slightest.
To activate the set effect, one must never lose sight of the state of the battle.
As I said, there was a perfectly valid reason I had put on the Jacket of Dawn. So I sincerely hope that, like me, you people had perfectly valid reasons for your actions.
“In accordance with procedure.”
I held my head stiffly upright and looked at the branch chiefs.
“Now it is your turn to prove your innocence.”*
So it was tangled in a complicated and sordid mess.
In any case, they say you shouldn’t judge people by appearances.
Not only the branch chiefs in the United States, but Russia, Japan, Italy, Egypt……
It seemed they had all had dealings with Raymon Sean.
‘If it were up to me.’
I wanted to flip my hand over, take back the words I had spoken, and pretend that even my final mercy had never existed. After all, every one of them had acted as though they sympathized with pride right in front of me, hadn’t they?
‘See, Granfell? This is why the world is terrifying.’
Of course, it seemed they all had their own reasons.
“……
We simply could not bring ourselves to refuse the proposal.”
AAU branch chiefs.
Some might call them living authorities.
But that would only be because they didn’t know the full story.
‘It makes sense, in its own way.’
If one traced it back, the AAU branch chiefs had been executives of Cosmo.
Which meant they had started as ordinary salaried workers.
People like that, under pressure from the governments of each country.
How uprightly could they truly uphold AAU’s rules?
Bak Minjae snapped coldly.
“I’m ashamed that I ever considered you comrades.”
Unless they had been called Cosmo’s Mad Dog, it would not have been easy.
It was not as if the branch chiefs were players, either.
Whether it was threats or requests for favors.
I could understand that they had no choice but to be swayed.
At that point, I opened my mouth.
“I pay my respects to you, who preserved even the slightest shred of pride.”
“…….”
Even at my praise, the atmosphere did not ease.
They could not be shameless in the face of their own mistakes.
If they had a conscience, that was only natural.
Because the contrast was certain.
‘The ones who deserve praise are my comrades.’
Through the Demonic Eye’s telescope.
The branch chiefs had watched the desperate struggle of the Holy War Alliance.
There was no one watching them, nor was there any honor to seize by winning. If they could raise their heads stiffly before those who had thrown away their lives solely to protect the Arcana Continent and reality……
‘Then they really wouldn’t even be human.’
Because I knew that fact.
“That single grain of pride saved your lives.”
I added as much.
For reference, Granfell holds grudges for a long time. For a mind sharp enough to reproduce a spell exactly after witnessing it once, remembering the branch chiefs’ testimonies was no difficult task.
Even if I could not remember.
‘I can borrow the power of the Magic Tower.’
Let’s see, by now, under Marcelo’s command, the senior mages should have begun moving. By reading the memories from the branch chiefs’ belongings, they would determine whether their testimony was true, and thus where exactly their higher-ups were.
‘A thorough way of handling things.’
Even I had not planned that far.
It was quite meticulous.
Our Bak Minjae and Branch Chief Baker. Perhaps because they were fellow AAU branch chiefs, they had planned things even more thoroughly. They would secure testimony and evidence alike, leaving no hole to escape through.
‘Thanks to that, there’s no way out now.’
[『Absolute Zero』]
Its release was a kind of signal flare. Naturally, the only ones who could recognize that signal were mages. In other words, it was a signal solely for the Magic Tower.
Shall we recall how the world currently evaluates the Magic Tower?
Consider the ripple effect of the incident in the United States. At present, the Magic Tower was receiving an evaluation even greater than that of the Magic Tower during the days of the Arcana Continent Chronicle. I am not talking about its strength.
I mean that it was displaying the force of the Magic Tower of those days, when it trampled everything underfoot for the sake of its own goals. Indeed, Meteor Strike was not called a highest-class spell for nothing.
‘The visual effect was tremendous.’
The senior mages of that Magic Tower had moved to secure the identities of the ringleaders. I could say with confidence that no one would be able to stop the Magic Tower’s actions.
My prediction was accurate.
The Tower Master, Marcelo’s telepathy reached me.
The senior of black magic, Matisse.
He had secured the person of a Japanese government official.
After that, news arrived one after another.
At that point, I opened my mouth.
With a confidence that hid nothing.
Naturally, the world should be informed as well, should it not?
“Do not be concerned.”
At my words, doubt appeared on the faces of the branch chiefs, excluding Bak Minjae and Baker. They likely did not understand what I was suddenly telling them not to be concerned about. However, Granfell’s manner of speech was never kind.
I ended it there.
“In accordance with procedure, everything will be set right.”
I had no intention of somehow capturing and executing high-ranking officials of other countries.
That would be illegal. In any case, I could not break the rules.
Of course, the Magic Tower’s strict procedures could not be overlooked either.
Mutual agreement was necessary.
“That is all.”
With those words, I left the branch chief’s office.
If it were up to me, I would have liked to congratulate the Holy War Alliance on their victory, but unfortunately, Marcelo’s telepathy turned my steps toward the Magic Tower.
—Testimony concerning Raymon Sean has emerged, sir.
I told you, didn’t I?
There’s nothing to be gained from making the Magic Tower your enemy.*
“Phew.”
The Holy War Alliance.
Victory in the battle against Discus’s body.
There were no spoils whatsoever.
Because Discus’s shell contained neither a soul, nor grand equipment, nor even experience points. However, at this moment, no one felt regret over that fact.
“We did iiiiiiiit!”
Thud.
Nam Taemin raised his greatsword toward the sky and shouted.
Even if it was nothing more than a shell.
Without Hoyeol’s help, they had defeated a being of the Demon World.
“Good grief, my whole body aches.”
Even Chainwalker, who started whining as soon as the battle ended, looked relieved. They must not hold back the Commander-in-Chief in the Demon World. Thanks to this victory, that obsessive worry had been eased, if only a little.
“Tsk.”
“I’m happy, and yet I’m not.”
“That guy is seriously annoying.”
Leoni and Hisagi were a little less intoxicated by the joy of victory than the others.
That was because Nam Taemin’s performance in this battle had been dazzling.
Leoni, in particular, swallowed a bitter taste inwardly.
“The annoying one is you too, snake-eyes.”
“Even if it is Miss Leoni, being treated the same as Taemin is a little…”
“……
Both of you are the same kind of bastards.”
Nam Taemin and Hisagi had unmistakably become worthy of being seen in a new light.
‘Compared to them, what about me?’
It was hard to say she had pulled her weight in this battle.
However, Leoni did not shrink back.
No, even if she wanted to, she could not.
Rustle.
When she lifted her head, there was a star in the sky shining especially brilliantly. At some point, Nam Taemin, who was beside her, spoke. In truth, even if a message had not appeared, it was obvious enough to recognize.
“No matter how I look at it, it’s the same, right? As Mr. Hoyeol’s hair color.”
There were no longer any stars on the Arcana Continent.
What embroidered the night sky.
Was a Demonic Eye (魔眼)
rolling its enormous pupil.
Leoni gave a small laugh.
“It’s glaring real fierce.”
Yes, that was surely the Demonic Eye of Hoyeol, Demon King of the Ten Thrones.
Their commander could only be Hoyeol.
That was why Leoni could not shrink back.
Nam Taemin smiled brightly.
“No wonder I didn’t get tired no matter how much I rampaged. And for the first time, I succeeded in controlling my Wildness. It must be thanks to morale shooting up to the maximum. But still, I shouldn’t be like this.”
The human heart was truly fickle.
Just moments ago, they had been prepared for death.
Yet the moment they survived, laughter came out.
However, the Holy War Alliance had more than enough right to do so.
“You are writing an excellent tale of growth, all of you!”
Because the legendary romantic explorer, Lorentsk, acknowledged it.
“Oh, come on, a tale of growth? This time was thanks to the Commander-in-Chief again.”
At Lorentsk’s romantic praise, Nam Taemin waved his hand awkwardly. But it was not empty flattery. Lorentsk had experienced the Demon World, and thus knew about the beings of the Demon World.
“Well. Was it said that an adventurer’s sight is different? I cannot tell what effect is contained within that brilliant star. But at least when it comes to beings of the Demon World, I know them well. Whatever effect it may have had, the fact that you hunted a lich of the Demon World is a great feat.”
“……
Is that so?”
The Holy War Alliance, including Nam Taemin and Chainwalker, exchanged glances.
Did we really accomplish something that incredible……?
It was none other than Lorentsk, called the legendary explorer.
If someone who must have seen countless things said so.
Nam Taemin scratched his head.
“……
Does this mean we can be a little happier about it? Haha.”
And that sight became a scene for Lorentsk.
“Goodness, what inspiration I cannot miss.”
Before they knew it, Lorentsk had raised his quill pen.
At that moment, he began writing the tale of heroes from another world.
Heroes more humble than anyone, who knew their own measure well.
“A completely different world. In a more intense expression……”
A story’s weight changed depending on who told it.
The moment Lorentsk stopped his quill pen.
The players’ vision flickered.
“……!!!”
In an instant, Nam Taemin, Hisagi, Leoni.
And the members of the Giant Alliance guilds all turned their gazes toward Lorentsk.
“A-a legend? Us?!”
For some reason.
Though they were the ones to have written a legend for the first time.
Rather than happy, they felt bewildered.
[The “Legend of Otherworld Adventurers” resounds across the Arcana Continent.]
“O-otherworld……?”
“I’ve seen a manga with a title like this at a rental bookshop.”
“No. Lord Lorentsk, what is with your sense for titles?!”
At this moment, so that “someone” illuminating the night sky.
Would not feel too hurt.
They became able to understand, if only slightly, a sense of shame.*
The imperial capital, Antonium.
“Ransha, let’s stop here and go back for today.”
“Yes. I’ll just finish packing this!”
“Really, aren’t you working too hard?”
Antonium had opened its gates.
Because the small towns of Antonium had successfully completed their reconstruction.
The process was unbelievable even after seeing it.
The Quirnberg Machine Tower was still understandable, but who could have imagined that beings of the past, who had vanished from the Arcana Continent, would revive and return to the Arcana Continent?
Ransha, from the mountain village of Dredsen, asked.
“Am I falling behind because I’m from the mountains? I can nod and say, ‘I see,’ for the Quirnberg Machine Tower, considering the dwarves’ craftsmanship. But the rest is simply……”
“Ransha, you’re better off than me, and I’m a native of Antonium. I still can’t believe the Quirnberg Machine Tower exists. Something that huge moves around. It hunts demons. Spirits have become visible to these old eyes of mine.”
“The Iron Castle is far more incredible than the Machine Tower, though?”
“Is it? But even after hearing that, I still can’t believe it.”
Ransha packed up her things together with the women of Antonium.
The nights of the Arcana Continent were still dangerous.
Aside from the soldiers, everyone had to return to Antonium.
However, perhaps because vitality had returned to the continent.
Even the small talk passing back and forth was full of hope.
Especially.
“By the way, there are rumors going around that adventurers have returned to the Arcana Continent! You know, the adventurers who appeared decades ago and then vanished overnight!”
“Really?”
“Of course! They say they don’t have the miracle of resurrection like they did back then, but it seems they’ve returned far stronger than before. It’s such a relief, isn’t it? It’s good news after so long.”
Ransha slightly shrugged her shoulders.
For no reason, she felt pleased.
That even in such casual conversation, Hoyeol’s achievements were being highly valued.
‘He must still be struggling even at this moment, mustn’t he?’
For Ransha, someone from an insignificant mountain village like herself, the only thing she could do was pray. Ransha took one step away from the women’s chatter and prayed.
‘May he be safe today as well.’
But then, something entirely unexpected happened.
Before Antonium’s gates.
She saw unforgettable hair.
“……
That’s!”
Brilliantly shining silver hair.
And yet, for some reason.
That hair hung much longer than before.
But from the color it emitted, she could be certain.
That was Hoyeol’s hair.
Ransha, glad to see him, had just quickened her steps.
“Um……?”
Ransha let out a gasp.
“Ah!”
The face revealed was not Hoyeol’s.
A decadent air flowed from large, slanted eyes.
Skin not merely white, but pallid.
An impression so sharp it seemed it could cut.
Looking again, the only thing similar was the hair color.
And above all.
Slide.
There was no warmth in the man’s gaze as it turned toward her.
It was not the gaze of a person looking at another person.
It was the gaze of someone looking down at an insect.
“I-I’m sorry.”
She had been completely mistaken and had been rude.
Ransha, without realizing it, bowed her head in surprise.
It was then.
An Antonium guard asked the man a question.
“May I ask your identity?”
The man answered.
“Tell Seric Rose.”
“Seric Rose? How dare you put His Majesty’s name in your mouth……!!”
“Pride.”
The corners of his mouth were subtly twisted.
“No, tell him that the prodigal son of Claudi has come to preach the truth.”