◈ Episode 398. A Meaningful First Step
You really were the high-maintenance type, Grandfell.
‘So I can’t keep getting by for free forever after all.’
In more ways than one.
It seemed my own struggling was necessary in order to realize Grandfell’s setting. Akshan, huh. To be honest, I used to complain about it all the time, like badmouthing a company behind its back, didn’t I?
It just somehow looked cool. Aside from that one thing, it didn’t have a single damn advantage. A class that even players with every imaginable taste had turned away from.
‘A class everyone quit except me.’
The only time Akshan received even the slightest interest was after the Cataclysm, once demon-type monsters began appearing in earnest. Considering the time difference between the Arcana Continent and reality…
‘This is the incredibly distant past.’
So I had to imprint Akshan, the abilities of a demon hunter, into Grandfell’s memories.
To do that, I had to maintain the posture of a demon hunter even before an intermediate demon.
‘Never forget: style is life, style is death.’
A proper exorcism ritual.
This feels like I’m tutoring Grandfell.
But this time, it needed to be grand.
Just as I had not been captivated by the demon hunter for no reason.
Grandfell, too, had to understand what a demon hunter was.
I had to carve it into him with certainty.
‘Actually, nothing could be easier.’
They say even a dog at a village school can recite poetry after three years, and I was someone who had been tormented by Grandfell’s pride at every hour of the day. So I looked at the demon, who still did not know its place.
Shh.
I gently placed a finger against my lips.
“……!”
Then the demon closed its mouth. No, perhaps it would be more accurate to say it shut the hell up. Since it clamped down while it had been in the middle of blabbering, perhaps it had bitten its tongue. Blood came pouring from the corners of its mouth as though flowing backward.
Only now did it seem to notice.
Its pupils widened.
Well, too late.
‘So it wasn’t wrong.’
After facing Demon Kings, Great Evils, and even Demon Kings above them, standing before an intermediate demon without even a true name felt oddly refreshing. I felt as though I could understand Grandfell’s usual emotions.
‘Inferior creatures.’
Thanks to that, I was able to hunt it naturally.
There was no need for a grand weapon, nor for the manifestation of magic.
Because there was an unfathomable gap between me and it as I was now.
Just—
“Die with your mouth shut.”
With a single word, I could cut off its breath.
The nameless intermediate demon fell into hell like that, and the exorcism ritual ended. The woman, unconscious and staggering, began to collapse. I supported her. She let out a ragged breath.
“Haa……”
The demon was dead, but the possessed had not died.
That meant the exorcism ritual just now must have been firmly recorded in Grandfell’s memories. If nothing unusual happened, Grandfell would head to Akshan just as his setting dictated.
By the way.
‘I can’t get used to this.’
Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
The past, present, and future seemed to be tangled together in a complicated mess.
But let’s not blame it on being a humanities student.
Even science majors wouldn’t understand this.
‘But what’s certain is.’
I, Lee Hoyeol.
Had made the best choice I could make right now.
In that sense, I had no regrets.
Only concerns.
I turned my head and looked around.
“……
Thank you for saving us.”
Here and there, the survivors of Citadel began appearing one by one.
I looked at the transformed Citadel.
It was clearly territory of the Empire.
Why had the Empire
not come to save Citadel, which had fallen into the hands of demons?
Another question followed.
“H-hiiik……!”
I already knew
that the Shadow Mercenary Corps had targeted Claudi.
But to think assassins of such low caliber had also targeted Claudi.
‘If they scraped the bottom and poured in everything they had.’
My thoughts naturally began to turn.
‘Then perhaps there are far more enemies I don’t know about.’
The battle for the Demon King’s throne alone is already more than enough.
Thinking that, I already felt exhausted.
I was even the one who had announced to the whole world that Claudi had returned to the continent. Thanks to that, the likelihood that old enemies would be wary of the revived Claudi must have increased as well.
‘There really won’t be any time to rest from now on.’
Just because I had broken the curse, [Understanding Darkness].
Just because the skill proficiency of [Heaven Above, Heaven Below, I Alone Am Supreme]
had increased.
It meant this was no time to be satisfied.
It was then.
‘!’
A familiar sensation came over me.
The feeling of my mind floating away.
The feeling of being thrown out of Grandfell’s past.
[The past is unstable.]
……
Wait, not yet.
I desperately held on to my consciousness. I had already succeeded in firmly imprinting Akshan and the existence of demon hunters into Grandfell. If you asked me what lingering attachment I still had left—
‘It’s the second time, so there should be some progress, shouldn’t there?’
I wouldn’t know how much my understanding had risen from a mere ten percent until I checked the message after breaking this curse. But I did learn one thing for certain.
At least when it came to Grandfell’s original temperament……!
‘He would never let those assassins leave alive.’
But Grandfell.
How about learning mercy this time?
Am I not afraid of future trouble?
At that level, leaving them alive wouldn’t even make them a threat.
‘Of course, I’m not forcing you…….’
But isn’t there such a thing as the butterfly effect?
Who knows?
Those guys might end up being helpful in reality.
‘……
Well, it’s not like I’m saying this for my own good.’
I looked at the people shedding tears.
“We’re alive now.”
“Goddess, thank you. Truly……!”
“Mommy, where’s Daddy?”
There was no need to pour cold water over Citadel.
[The curse, ‘Understanding Darkness,’ is being lifted.]
Of course, I could no longer interfere with Grandfell’s past.
So I would not be able to witness the final moments of those shabby assassins either.
Which meant that even if they looked at me with those pitiful eyes, there was nothing I could do.
‘Try praying desperately or something.’
Pray that Lord Grandfell shows mercy.
*
My vision flickered.
[Understanding Darkness (Curse): Greatly increases affinity with suitable mana. However, one must face the past that is the source of that suitable mana.
- Current suitable mana affinity: 30%]
……
What’s this?
‘I can’t just be happy about this.’
It had been a while since I was surprised by a system message.
My affinity rose by twenty percent. Even if it was only ten percent before, was this the difference in efficiency compared to the days when I had been smashing my head against bare ground? Now that I think back on it…
‘The message saying the past was unstable, too.’
Its frequency had decreased significantly. The same went for the sense of dissonance I had felt in Grandfell’s body. Then I checked the next message.
[Heaven Above, Heaven Below, I Alone Am Supreme (30%): An unparalleled, once-in-an-era genius who would even blaspheme a goddess. Manifests the talent of Grandfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo.]
Likewise, it had risen by twenty percent.
Hoping that I would be able to use Heaven Above, Heaven Below, I Alone Am Supreme in the Demon World as well, I turned my eyes away from the message. After all, there was one experience I could not overlook.
‘So how many days has it been today?!’
The last time I entered [Understanding Darkness],
I had unexpectedly ended up being treated as missing. In preparation for that, this time I had even left a letter for Marcelo.
The Magic Tower’s office.
On the desk.
I looked at the parchment.
‘Seeing as it’s already been updated this densely.’
Let’s see, at least two days must have passed.
“I shall have to borrow the power of the wondrous.”
I said it grandly, but it simply meant I would check my smartphone.
My intuition was right.
Exactly two days had passed.
A twenty percent increase in [Heaven Above, Heaven Below, I Alone Am Supreme] skill proficiency in two days.
‘At this rate, it’s not a bad deal, is it?’
Of course.
“Time that should be cherished, and yet.”
It seemed Lord Grandfell knew no such thing as satisfaction.
Well, I did have to deal with another two days’ worth of piled-up work.
So he wasn’t wrong.
The relief was that I had told Marcelo in advance.
‘It’s on a completely different level from that time with the cat.’
Thanks to that, I could read through the messages exchanged on the parchment with a lighter burden. But…… what is this supposed to mean? No, I can understand the other two, but how……?
──────
List of those entering the Arcana Continent.
1. Senior of Black Magic Studies, Matisse Dean Karl.
2. Senior of Healing Magic Studies, Bellier Yusia.
3. Senior of Fire Magic Studies, Bensch William.
──────
Why
was Bensch William’s entry into the Arcana Continent approved?!
If it had been the cat Tower Master, that would be one thing, but the approver was Marcelo.
Marcelo, who made decisions for the Magic Tower even more than I did, must have had a valid reason for permitting Bensch’s entry into the continent.
‘Still, permission to leave the tower?’
My mouth opened heavily.
“An unusual aura is spreading across the Arcana Continent.”
Sssrk.
Without hesitation, I moved the feather pen.
A reply came back immediately.
Only—
──────
Sir, Antonium has sealed its gates.
──────
‘……
What?’
I simply could not believe it even after seeing it....
Click—
I headed straight to the top floor of the Magic Tower. I could enter the Arcana Continent through the Magic Tower’s portal, but right now I wanted to avoid unnecessary attention.
‘The portal’s coordinates are fixed to the Claudi territory.’
I would have no choice but to run into players. Moreover, Matisse, Bellier, and Bensch had already entered the Arcana Continent through the portal.
If it became known that even I had entered the Arcana Continent? The media, thirsty for a scoop, would spread their wings of imagination and start writing articles at once.
“I cannot bring trouble upon the family.”
……
Right, let’s benefit from filial piety for once.
“I am glad you have returned safely, Sir.”
As I stepped onto the top floor, Marcelo bowed his head.
I nodded lightly and immediately got to the point.
What on earth happened?
“Has an abnormal phenomenon been detected in Antonium?”
“We learned of it through reports delivered by the Holy War Alliance and the adventurers. The Empire—more precisely, the imperial capital Antonium—is said to have cut off all exchange with every force.”
“I see.”
Grandfell reacted calmly, but inside, I was so shocked I nearly turned over. No, what kind of development is this? Marcelo continued.
“It is said that even the cities rebuilt near Antonium do not know the reason. I have also heard that even high-ranking imperial officials who had been dispatched outside are currently unable to return to Antonium.”
I answered at once.
“It must be the Emperor’s arbitrary decision.”
In the first place, the only one who could give such an enormous order as closing Antonium was the Emperor. By the way, what kind of change of heart did His Majesty the Emperor have?
‘There hadn’t been any sign of it.’
There must have been a trigger.
“As you are aware, in order to determine the truth behind this incident, the Magic Tower has dispatched three senior mages to the Arcana Continent.”
Marcelo added with a serious expression.
“This may be an overstepping request, or it may be needless worry. However, the Magic Tower’s senior mages may be of help in uncovering the truth of Antonium. So please, accompany them, Sir.”
He even bowed his head politely.
‘Are you worried I might refuse?’
I, Lee Hoyeol.
Had no intention of charging into the obviously suspicious Antonium alone……!
Of course, it was the Arcana Continent.
Thanks to the effect of [Last Adventurer], I did not have to worry about my life.
‘But the intent looks rotten.’
The reason they had deliberately sealed the gates.
It was an act no different from a threat,
holding the people of Antonium hostage.
Because of that, I had no intention of moving rashly.
‘It’s reassuring for me, too.’
Matisse and Bellier.
Even among the twenty senior mages, they possessed exceptional skill. With those two, I could trust them and leave my back to them. However, when it came to one person, Bensch William, no matter how I thought about it, I could not understand.
‘……
This damn adherence to procedure.’
But it was a request from Marcelo, the Tower Master.
Even if I could not use honorific speech,
I could not raise an objection.
Without complaint, I drew up my mana.
Goooo—
Mana that had grown even purer as my rank rose. Without causing a commotion, I manifested a portal leading to the Arcana Continent. First, I had to rendezvous with the seniors.
The target coordinates were the three senior mages.
Click—
After taking a step forward, I soon encountered them.
“Chief Lee.”
“Ah, Chief Lee!”
“Uhek! C-Chief Lee?!”
The three senior mages each reacted differently.
However, my gaze went to Bensch first.
Yes, due to procedure, I had not been able to ask the Tower Master Marcelo.
But asking the person himself should finally satisfy this damn curiosity of mine.
“Bensch William, do you know the reason you were selected?”
Grandfell’s manner of speaking was shameless beyond belief.
Whether he knew that fact or not,
Bensch opened his mouth.
“Well.”
At his answer, I couldn’t help but flinch.
“Because the imperial palace mage, Nash William, is my younger brother.”
……
Our Senior Bensch was the son of a well-off family?!